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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notas/Nota*  tachniquat  at  bibliographiquas 


Tha  Inttituta  has  attamptad  to  obtain  tha  baat 
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tha  usual  mathod  of  filming,  ara  chackad  balow. 


0 


D 


D 


n 
0 


n 


n 


Colourad  covars/ 
Couvartura  da  coulaur 


I     I    Covars  damaged/ 


Couvartura  andommagAa 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurAe  et/ou  pelliculAe 


I      I    Cover  title  missing/ 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


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I      I    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


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Bound  with  other  material/ 
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Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
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La  reliure  serrA^  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
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Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
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II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajoutAas 
lors  dune  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cala  Atait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  eti  filmias. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  supplAmentaires: 


L'lnstitut  a  microfilm6  la  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  Att  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
da  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mAthode  normala  de  filmage 
sont  indiquAs  ci-dessous. 


r~1   Coloured  pages/ 


D 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagAas 


□   Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaurias  et/ou  pelliculAes 


^    Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
"^    Pages  d6color*es,  tachat^es  ou  piquAas 


I      I    Pages  detached/ 


Pages  d^tachias 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  prir 

Quality  inAgale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  materii 
Comprend  du  material  supplAmantaira 


r~~\    Showthrough/ 

I      I    Quality  of  print  varies/ 

r~~\    Includes  supplementary  material/ 


r~~1    Only  edition  available/ 


Seule  Edition  disponible 

Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  AtA  filmies  it  nouveau  de  fapon  A 
obtanir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  tha  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 


Ce  do 

10X 

icument  e 

St  fil 

mA  au  tto. 
14X 

t  de 

rAdu 

ction 
18X 

indii 

}Ui  c 

ides 

sous 
22X 

26X 

30X 

1 

1 

7 

12X 

16X 

20X 

24X 

28X 

32X 

ails 

du 

»difier 

une 

nags 


Tha  copy  filmad  hara  has  baan  raproducad  thanks 
to  tha  ganarocity  of: 

Library  Diviiion 

Provincial  Archives  of  British  Columbia 

Tha  imagas  appaaring  hara  ara  tha  bast  quality 
possibia  considaring  tha  condition  and  lagibility 
of  tha  original  copy  and  in  kaaping  with  tha 
filming  contract  spacifications. 


Original  copias  in  printad  papar  covars  ara  filmad 
baginning  with  tha  front  covsr  and  anding  on 
tha  last  paga  with  a  printad  or  illustratad  impras- 
sion.  or  tha  back  covar  whan  appropriata.  All 
othar  original  cop'as  ara  filmad  baginning  on  tha 
first  paga  with  a  printad  or  illustratad  impras 
sion,  and  anding  on  tha  last  paga  with  a  printad 
or  illustratad  imprassion. 


Tha  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — ^-  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


L  examplaira  filmA  fut  raproduit  grAca  A  la 
g4n*rositA  da: 

Library  Division 

Provincial  ArchivHs  ol  British  Ciiluinhi.i 

Las  imagas  suivantas  ont  At*  raproduitas  avac  la 
plus  grand  soin,  compta  tanu  da  la  condition  at 
da  la  nattet*  da  laxemplaira  film*,  et  en 
conformity  avac  las  conditions  du  contrat  da 
filmaga. 

Les  exemplairas  originaux  dont  la  couvarture  an 
papier  est  imprimAe  sont  tilmAs  en  commen9ant 
par  la  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
darniAre  paga  qui  comporte  une  emprainte 
d'impression  ou  d  illustration,  soit  par  la  second 
plat,  salon  la  cas.  Tous  las  autras  exemplairas 
originaux  sont  filmAs  an  commanpant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  derniAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  appaiaitra  sur  la 
derniAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas   le  symbole  --^  signtfie  "A  SUIVRE".  le 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
filmAs  A  des  taux  de  rAduction  diffArents 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clichA,  il  est  filmA  A  partir 
de  Tangle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  la  nombre 
d'images  nAcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mAthode. 


rata 

0 


>alura, 

I  A 


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32X 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

:   4 

5 

6 

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ANI 


BY 


S.    .1 


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<tt^  i^^jt^  {^  CfP0L€.L  d^^i^ 


\^> 


^D:l  AUTHENTIC 


:;? 


'CCOUNT 


OK   THK 


URDER  OF  DR.  WHITMAN 


AND   OTHER   MISSIONARIES, 


y  the  Cayuse  Indians  of  Oregon,  in  1847, 


AND  THE  CAUSES  WHICH  LED  TO  THA;r  HORRIBLE 


CATASTROPHE. 


BY  THE  VERY  REV.  J.  B.  A.  BROUILLET. 


-.-•-.- 


(t 


Magna  est  Veritas,  et  prasvalebit." 


^ 


Second   Bdition. 


,^_^  PORTLAND,  OREGON : 

'8.    .T.    McCORMlCK,    P  TJte  L  I  SH  K  R.. 

1869. 


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s. 


AUTHENTIC    ACCOUNT 


OF  TOR 


MURDER  OF  DR  WHITMAN 


AND   OTIIKR   MISSIONAlilKS, 


iiy  the  Oayuse  Indians  of  Oregon,  in  1847, 


,\ND  THE  CAUSKS  WHICH  LED  TO  THAT  nOURlI$LE 


€ATA8ri{01'HK. 


BY  THE  VERY  REV.  J.  B.  A.  BROUILLET. 


^^ Magna  est  Veritas,  et  j^rccvalcbiC 


S€icoti<\    Kditioru 


PORTLAND,   OREGON: 
S.    J.    MIoCORlVIIC  li,    3?TJI3LISH:KII. 


m  ' 

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1  fli '    '''' 

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Ilk! 

P  ^1S 


;  . ■  i  ^  ^r ! I  t 


iriH*Vi   U* 


.  I     ,^-s      «.     »       ^  f 


A.*i.  WALLING,  PIUNTER.  PORTLAND. 


|: 


i  ^ 


'  V; 


INTRODUCTION. 


*  In  prc3ontin<5  the  present  edition  to  the  puhlif,  the  uu- 
tJjor  feels  it  incumbent  upon  bim  to  give  the  reasons 
dliich  influenced  bim  in  this  undert.niviiig.  The  sad  ca- 
tlistropbe  narrated  in  tbeso  pa^es  took  place  upwards  oJ' 
i^venty  years  ago,  and,  notwitbHtanding  tbe  verdict  of 
inbiased  puldic  ojiinion — after  a  tiiorougb  examination 
fito  the  causes  of  the  catastropbe — fully  acquitted  tbe 
viitbolic  missionaries  from  every  sbadow  of  culpability 
KHigbt  to  be  cast  upon  tbem  ibi'ougb  bigotry  and  prcju- 
lico,  yet  men,  ])rofes.sii)g  tbe  jturcst  princi])lesof  Cbrist- 

In  cbarity,  are  still  found,  wboso  only  nim  seems  to  be 
le  acbievement  of  an  unenviable  notoriety,  tbrcugb  tbe 
|il»rication  of  falsehood  and  tbo  circulation  of  "  facts,'' 
bunded  upon  fiction. 

1  To  counteract,  in  a  measure,  tbe  malicious  macbiua- 
ions  of  sucb  misguided  men.  a  series  of  articles  "were 
piblisbed  <}uring  tbe  year  li^53,  in  tbe  New  York  Frec- 
^nn's  Journal,  and  were  afterwards  issued  in  pamphlet 
hnn.     Tbe  circulation  of  these  documents  served  to  al- 

!y  for  several  years  tbe  excitement  which  error  inevita- 
y  creates  where  truth  is  unknown. 
Tbo  first  edition  of  this  pamjiblet.  written  in  l^^ts  and 


!fls«:i;i 


-T.-i;ioN-VV.  History  Dept. 

PROVING. AU   L-lBf.'APY 


/^ 


r 


\  TTIK  WHITMAN  MASSArRR. 

issued  in  l^.').'?,  has  hecome  t'xliaustccl;  some  of  the  pi"''!,!.,   ♦ 
cipal  witnesses  of  the  Indian  masHUcre  at  Dr.  AVhitnian'^  ^^^ 
station  have   left  the  country  ;  many  of  tlicm  arc  deal        < 
— a  now  community  has  spruii;,^   \\\>  in   the   hmd.     Stil. 

thci'o    are    found  those   amon^'Ht    us    Avhose  nrojuilicc* 

1  1  .,11  f*^^  "i 

oven  at  this  remote  day,  are  so  stron;^  as  not  to  yieltl  bii 

"  "  ''  ton   ' 

fore    the   penotralinuf  rays  of  truth  ;  Avhosc  minds    wit.    .'.* 
not  ho  satisfied   with   the  unchan^'oahlo  and  irrefulahl. 


evidence   of  disinterested  w'itnesses,  and    whoso  sj)leoi 

a;;ainst  the  C'atholic  church,  and  all  that  pertains  to  ho*.     ' 

nes  1 
creed,  her  pastors  and  her  people,  Hndsvont  in  the  sha))^ 

of  "  resolutions  "  without  reason."'  paragraphs    withoi      '^"^ 

point,  and    anonymous    newsj)aper   articles  without  nl'"ds 

sponsibility.  ^^^  ^'' 

It  bciuix  not  only  impracticahle.  but  distasteful,  to  tlu  i 

author  to  undertake  the  tr.sk  of  i('plyin<c  to  tho  open  a, 

,,     ,      ,  ,  ^ .       ^ ,  .  '    ,    Skeen 

covert  attacks  tiHis  made  upon  fiuestionsof  veracity  loik,       „ 

since  settled,  ho  has  included  in  the  present  work  all  tlwii  _ 

evidence  relative  to   the  massacre  of  Di-.  Whitman  aiAognj 

others,  by  the  Cayusc   Indians,  published   in  his   ^ormijj^^.-p 

pamphlet,  tog-ether  with  an  appendix,  wherein  will    ti^  .i 

found    additional   irrefutable  evidence    whi<'h  has  sind,.     , 

ittacl 
emanated  from  sources  beyond  tho  sus))iciou  of   jiartitOi  .•  , 

ity,  some  of  which  we  deem  worthy  of  special  referen(|^  ^i 

Tho  Key.  (Justavus  llinos,  D.  I).,  (extracts  from  who^nd  o 

History  of  Oregon   aro   given  in  the  appendix)  is  an  i||y  q([ 

fluential   minister  of  the  ^lethodist  Ej)i,scopal   Churcijn  chi 

and  his  evidence  alone,  aside  from  the  testimony  adducH  mi 

from   numerous   other  ennallv  reliablo   sources,   shoui  .^ 

.       "  I'ltnoi 

briny:  conviction  to  the  minds  of  all  imi)artial  men,  wU 

D  !l)rme 

desire  to  learn  the  truth   of  history.     J)r.   J  lines'  woii 

was  first  issued   in    1850,  three  years  after  the  lament*    ,  j 

*Sce    resolutions   ii'luptccl    by    Conyregationul   Associaiion    of   Orog.((j)ined 
July,  1869. 

^  ISO   n 


V. 


THE  NVirriMAN  MASSArRE.  9 

I 

incof  the  i>rii|,,y  tniKody  at  Dr.  Wliitinaii's  mission;  the  work  han 
Dv.  \\  \\\tma.i\ 'y^^^^f^^,^^  throuj,'h  sovoral  oilitions,  fiiidiiii;  its  way  fnlo  ov- 
them  ai'O  <loa  ,j  ,  State  in  the  Union,  n'ul  the  author,  eneoiira<;e(l  hy 
lui  .  »  u  j^Q  success  which  was  justly  afconled  Irin  fii'st  efVort, 
ose  piejuuicc!  ^^^  issued  a  recent  work  upon  thc^  Institutions  of  Orc- 
notto  yieUl  b.i        ^.^^  ^j^^  ^.^.^^^^^^  ,^^   puhlished  in  ISaO  have  stood  un- 

o.sc  m  M(  .         Challenged  for  nearlv  twenty  vears,  showinfjf  th(>  remote 

and  ii-refutahl  i  •  i    i    i  i  'ii  *    '  *■  • 

,  ,     Onuses  which   led  to  the  massacre   ot  so  many  innocent 

[    whoso  spleol        ,  1,1  i-       .1       /.  ii    1-        .     • 

1    rcoiMc.  and  cU-arl^'  exonerntinu;  the    (  ntliolic  missiona- 

pertaiim  to  ho*.  r     i    i  i\  .     i     <•    i        i        n 

^     .      ,       ,      nes  from  the  foul  charnje  poui^ht  to  he  fastened  on  them, 
snt  in  the  8ha)M  °  -^ 

'r*\i)hs    withor    '''^  letter  of  Sir  James  Dou'.das,  Chief  Factor  of  the 

les  without  nl^"^''^^"*^   Bay  Co.,  (who  wasresidin<^  at  Vancouver  at 

^le  time  of  the  massacre  at  Dr.  l\'hitman's  station,  and 

who  upon  learning  the  sad  ncw.s  immediately  ilispatched 


stastoful,  to  tl 


I  large  force  of  their   employrs,  under  charge  of  Peter 


r  to  tho  open  '^Ij^gp,^  Ogden,  to  the  scene,  for  the  purpo.'^e  of  prevent 
*'  '  ^  Ifeig  further  atrocities)  will  also  he  found  in  the  appendix. 
)nt  work  all  tl^^jj^  opinions  so  strongly  expressed  in  tins  letter  were 
r.  Wiutman  ai-lr^gc^i  upon  information  received  from  Mr.  Ogden,  Mr. 
d  in  his  fornu|f^.33^3^,^^  ^,^^^.^  ^^  p^,.,.    yyj^,j.^  ^yj^,,^^^  ^^^^^  nearest  post 

licrein  wu  ^  ^1^^  scene  of  the  murder)  and  other  relTable  gentlemen 
vhi<h  has  sint^^jj^^.jj^j  ^^  ^j^^,  Hudson's  Bay  Company.  It  is  therefore 
r'lnu  of  P''ii*"i;\^,.j(.^[y  impartial,  detailing  the  circumstances  which  led 
)ecial  '■'-"'^''■^'"'lo  the  sad  catastrophe  in  plain,  unvarnished  language, 
acts  from  whoind  expressing  the  united  opinions  of  men  well  qualified 
)endix)  is  an  i|y  education  and  years  of  experience,  to  judge  the  Indi- 
iscopal   Chur(ijn  character. 

timony  adduce  r^^^  evidence  adduced  by  these  and  other  disinterested 
sources,  ^li^>n|.itncssc8,  together  with  the  facts  reiterated  from  tlio 
aitia   men,  \v  5),.,^^^.  publication,  cannot  fail  of  bringing  conviction  to 

iN'ery  candid  mind,  that  tho  murder  of  Dr.    Whitman 

cr  the  lament!  ^  ,  .  .   .  iw   ^    i         4        i        i   i  * 

tnd  his  associates  was  premeditated,  matured  and  detcr- 

sociaiion  oi  Oivg(i)ined  upon  by  the  evil-disposed  Indians  among  the  Cay- 

iso   nation,   long   bcfiro   the  arrival  of  the    Bishop   of 


■V  ■ 


.•V 


i\ 


TIIK  WHITMAN   MASSAfRE 


Wallji  Wallii  and  liis  niissionai'u'H.  In  proof  of  tliiw  asfiiltos 
Hcrtion,  wc  nccMl  only  n-ciir  to  tlio  tllos  of  the  "()re<,'onJa>*i(»n 
American  and  Kvan^elical  Unionist,"  a  periodical  iMsiiedJi'illiK 
diirin/^' 1S4H,  at  TiialiUin  Plains,  in  Washini^toii  county  In  ( 
and  edited  l>v  IJev.  J.  S.  (JrifVm.  In  the  fourth  nuniheiX"  nni 
of  this  periodical  wo  find  over  th<*  si i^naturc  of  Kov  II.  JI|i'ar  ( 
S]»aldin^  an  article  fi-oni  which  we  learn  the  (act  that  jvVnn  t 
Nc/<  PerccH  Indian  in(|uired  of  him  prior  to  the  mas3acrcii'K''^l' 
if  Dr.  Whiti.ian  was  iiol  killed;  l.iil  lilllc  ii'Lcnlion  wa-J'^'.^'"' 
paid  to  the  quention  ;  Mr.  Spalding,  however,  mentionedj  "  ^^'' 
the  matter  to  J)r.  Wiiitnian,  Mr.  1.  inble,  and  othern  a'!""'^'  '^' 
the  station,  "TIV  considered  it  a  nltenition  of  tchat  /«(;(|'t''''  ' 
hcen  said  for  a  lon(j  time— a  l>all  can  penetrate  you-fi  n  cl 
body.         *         =•=  *  *      The  J)octor  in  one  of  bi|oiild 

visits  had  discovered  TdmaJias  (called  the  murderer  fron|i<'ni  f( 
having  killed  several  Iiidians)  who  had  just  before  losl'ut  tl 
his  wife,  and  who  was  the  person  that  afterwards,  witll'^T  f 
two  blows  upon  the  head  laid  our  lamented  brothcil'^'n  w 
bleeding  senseless,  but  not  lifeless,  upon  the  floor)  lining  i 
rather  a  suspicious  attitude.  From  that  time  the  Doctoif'd  the 
had  been  cautious.  But  there  were  no  inflammatorji|sed  b 
meetings  among  the  chiefs,  as  there  had  often  been.  Fof  tho  ] 
instance,  when  they  returned  from  California,  two  ycaril  an  a 
ago,  after  the  death  of  the  Walla  Walla  Chief,  several  i.yen 
meetings  wore  held  to  consider  whether  Dr.  Whitmaiijj  Opon 
myself  or  some  other  American  teacher  should  be  kille<4n<ror 
as  a  set  oft'  for  Elijah."  ^  one 

■  It  must  also  bo  borne  in  mind  that  on  several  occjw^'""^' 
sions  previous  to  tho  massacre,  the  Cay  use  Indians  hal'^'^  ^^^ 
made  assaults  upon  and  threats  against  the  missionar^^'^'^"  ' 
station  at  AVailatpu,  and  the  ferocity  of  the  charactcf^  '"'' 
of  the  Cayuscs  is  clearly  established  by  Sir  James  Dou#'"'"^' 
las,  who  knew  them  well,  *ind  who  declares  them  to  bf  ^^'"'' 
•'tho  most  treacherous  and  intractible  of  nil  tho  India^in 


iioy 


— '^-t'^"'"'  '"*•' 


TIIK  WHITMAN    MASSACUK. 


)t)f  of  lliiH  nsli'ilies  in  tliis  counlr}  ,  ainl  who  hud  on  muny  former  oc- 
tho  "Orconjii'^ioii'*  uliirniod  the  innmtcH  of  the  mission  hy  their  tu- 
•iodieul  issiiedJi'ill'ious  prod'odiii^s  and  ferociouH  threats." 
("■ton  county  I"  order  to  show  more  fullv  the  iireeariouH  position 
ourth  niiml)ei)(«  Hjiic'd  Ity  the  while  sctlhM's  in  ()re«j{on,  previous  to  the 
I  of  liev  II.  ll|i'ai'  of  the  Whitman  iii:i8sacro,  wo  insert  an  extract 
ho  (act  that  aV""^  ll>^  message  of  (lov^rnor  (Ieor!.f('  Abernetliy  to  the 
I  the  massacnie^ishilive  AssemM  ,  of  ^ 'reijon  'lorritory,  convened  at 
;iHciitiun  wai'^'g""  '''0'  I^''emher,  '-IT  . 

cr  mentioned]  '' ^^"»'  felations  with  Ihv  Indians  becomes  every  year 
and  others  a'f*"'^  emharrassin;:;.  'fh^y  see  the  white  man  occup^-in^ 
n  of  icliitt  /unl"-'''"  I»nd,  rapidly  fillinj.:;  i.p  the  country,  and  they  put 
L'nctrato  you-li  a  claim  for  pay.  They  have  been  ♦rhl  that  a  chief- 
r  in  one  of  hifould  como  out  from  the  Tnited  States,  and  treat  with 
murderer  fronjiem  for  their  hinds  ;  they  have  been  told  this  so  often 
ust  before  los>|'sil  they  begin  to  doui)t  the  truth  of  it  ;  at  all  events, 
Lerwards  witl}'^'}'  f^'i}';  '  ''^  ^^''H  "<'t  eomo  until  we  are  all  <lead.  and 
cnted  brothcif'*'"  what  i^ood  will  blankets  do  us?  We  want  some- 
tho  floor)  it|iii>g  now.'  This  leads  to  trouble  between  the  settler 
me  the  Doctoif'd  the  Indians  about  him.  Some  plan  should  bo  de- 
inflammatorj'l^ed  by  which  a  fund  can  be  raised,  and  presents  made 
ton  been.  Vo$  the  Indians  of  suOicient  value  to  keep  thetn  (j^uiet  un- 
nia,  two  ycarfl  an  agent  arrives  from  the  United  States." 

Chief,  several  i.ven  as  early  as  183;'),  sonic  of  the  missionaries  settled 
Dr.  ^V  hitmaii^  Oregon  and  engaged  in  civilizing  the  Indians,  woro  ia 
lould  be  klllcl|^,,^^^l.  of  being  murdered  in  consequence  of  tho  death 
(  one  of  the  Indian  children  attending  school.  Tho 
several  occnl''^'""^^^''^'^^^''^  were  as  follows:  "A  boy  whoso  name 
0  Indians  bal'^'^  Keno-teesh,  bclcnging  to  tho  Sidc-lah  tribe,  was  ro- 
[\c  missionar^'^'^^  '"^'^^  ^''^  mission  in  April,  and  died  on  tho  19th  of 
'  the  charactcf^  following  August.  A  few  days  after,  his  brother  do- 
James  Dou"V''"''^^'^^  ^o  ^^^'^  revenge  for  tho  death  of  Ken-o-tocsh, 
res  them  to  l>i  taking  the  life  of  Daniel   Loo  and  C'j'rus  vShopard."* 

nil    tho  India4ni„cs'  Jlistory  of  Orctfou,  p.  It. 


8^ 


THE  WIirT.MAN  MASSACflE, 


_,  .    „       ,„  ,nati 

This  fact  rllustnitcs  the  Indian   creed  of  "  life  for  life,'    j^^  .] 

and  proves  that  it  required  no  "  priestly"   infiueiices  to  -^^j^i^^ 

urge  them  on  to  murder,  inasmuch   as  no  Catholic   "^'s   .^ncl 

Bionaries  had  thfn  arrived  in  the  Willamette  valley.  ^^^.j 

Again,  in    1836,  Wc-lap-tu-lekt,  an   Indian  of  the  Cay-  tho 

u^e    tribef  went   to  tlic   Willamette  mission,  where  lit  whii 

placed   his  two  sons,  desiring  to  have   them   educated.  «^tat: 

lie  had  traveled  with  the  missionaries,  and  desired  them  ^nll  t 

to  settle  in  his  countiy,  but  they  not  acceding  to  his  re- nma* 

quest,  lie  determined  upon  bringing  his  ftimily  from  oasljng 

of  the  Cascades  to  the  Willamette  mission.     This  ho  ac-      j^ 

complished  early  in  Scptemb«r,  1880.     Some  of  his  chil-  ..  g  | 

dren  attended  school,  and  appeared  to  bo  making  ri^pi^i^(^>jj(] 

progress;  but  in    Februaiy,  18'}7,  his  family  began    to  ^  ,. 

suffer  with   disease.     Two  of  his  children   died  in  ^^^'^k      .. 

succession,  and  a  third  was  fast  sinking  with  a  burniu'^ i^,^,^, 

fever.     We-lap-tu-lekt  was  frightened,  and  supposed  that;^    . 

all  his  children  would  die,  if  he  did  not  leave  the  place.      <;,, 

lie  accordingly  fled  in  a  canoe,  but  just  as  ho  landed  J^t-  r.  ,, 

Fort  Vancouver,  on  his  way  to  his  mountain  home,  f^n  |,,.  f 

other  of  his  children  died.     "These   repeated  deaths  in  ^^.j^^^ 

one  familv,"  remarks  Rev.  Mr.  Ilines,  from  whose    histo  r    ,^^ 
"  i    r  1 

rv  of  Orojron  we  irlean   these  facts,  "  and  the  fact  thaii, 

.the 
most  of  the  mission   children  were  sick,   and   some  hacif 

*s'crc 
died  but  recently,  began  to     create  a  prrj<<dire    in   tlui 

minds  of  the  Indians  against  having  their  children   vcj, 

main  with  the  mission,  and  after  this  it  was  not  socas}!     '  ^ 

to  procure  and  retain  them."  fomt 

■,teen 


So  that  as  early  as  18SG,  eleven  years  before  tne  mas 


sacre,  n  prejudice  wa''  ci-eated  in   the  minds  of  the  Indi 

ans   airainst    the  American    misson;  ries,  and    that,  too]'"  ' 

among   the  very   tril>e  that  afterwards   committed    tliT      ' 

brutal  murders.     Of  course,  the   fact  of  children  dyiiiif  '^• 

fhoir 

fThe  siiiiie  tribe  that  munlored  Dr.  Wliitiuan.. 


TIIK  WHITMAN   MASSACRE. 


9 


natural  deaths  coukl  have  no  weight  in  forming  opiuious 
'  life  for  lite,     jj^  ^|j^  rainds  of  intelligent,  eivilizcd  men,  but,  with  poor 

influences  to  untutored  savages,  who  could  see  no  tangible  cause  for 
Catholic  mis  ^id^  unprecedented  mortality,  among  their  children, 
te  valley.  particularly  when   placed  under  the  care  of  white  men, 

\n  of  the  Cay-  the  case  was  entirely  altered, and  in  the  terrible  revenge 
ion,  where  ht  which  they  afterwards  perpetrated  upon  the  Whitman 
»em  educated.  .'Station,  they  doubtless  sought  to  avenge  the  deaths  of 
1  desired  them  ,:\11  their  kindred  and  childi"€n  who  had  perished,  as  thoj' 
din^-  to  his  re-  imagined,  through  the  instrumentality  of  the  whitos,dur- 
iiiily  from  oast  jng  long  years  of  association. 

\.  This  ho  ac-  Again,  in  1838,  wo  are  told  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  ]Iines  that 
me  of  his  chil-  i.  ^  fearful  mortality  "  raged  among  the  children  that  at- 

making  rapid  ^^,,^(1^3^  ^j^q  Methodist  mission  school.  About  one-third 
tnily  l^eg^»  ^0  „f  nil  the  children  that  had  been  received  had  died— a 
\  died  in  <l^i|ck  j.,^^j^  ^^  mortality  that  was  almost  unprecedented  in  the 
ivith  a  i^*^*rning^^i^j^j^|j^  ^^  .^i^^,  country  undergoing  the  change  from  bar- 
1  supposed  that  j,.^j.j^^^^  ^^  civilization. 

leave  the  place,  j.^;,,  .^^.^j,^  j,^  1«42,  a  fatal  disease  carried  away  many 
las  he  lanueu  at  ^^  ^1^^  children,  others  ran  away,  and  some  were  stolen 
itain  homo,  an  \,^^.  ^,^^,jj.  p.^pcp^^^  ^^ntn  ij^t  few  were  left,  and  these  with- 

ated  deaths  ii^j^i-ing  under  the  influence  ot  the  fatal  scrofula. 

m  whose   histo  >    ,,.      ,,  x:    i   n    ,  •     io  (..    .i      t     i-  .       i 

,      ,    I'lnallv.  we  nnd  that  m  1>'4.>.  the   Indians,  not  onlv  ot 
the  fact  thai!  .V  ,,         ,    ,    ,,  p  n     .         /^    ' 

,     .llie    W  ilhimette   valley,    but  those  of  Tiastern    Oreijon, 
and   some  liaoT  .       ,       ,•     o^'    <    i    ♦  i     x.  .  •.  ,r 

,    were    seriously   disanucted    towards    the    whites.      Mr. 
'rrjudice    in  tlui  -^ 

•'    ,  .,  ,  llinos,  treating  on  this  sut»ieet,  says: 

>ir  children   roj  '  *=>  ^      i      j 

wa!^  not  soca8\l    •' About  this  timev^he   Indians  became  quite  trouble- 

fomo  in  various  parts  of  the  country.     At  Wailatpu,  on 

ilio  Walla  Walla   river,  whore  a   missionary  station  had 

r-  .Li     T    ileen  established  by  Dr.  Marcus  Whitman,  they  took  ad- 
uls  ot  the  Inui  *'  ■        j 

1    xi    i.    x^^Tfviitao-e  of  the  Doctor's  absence  and  broke  into  the  house 
and    tliat,  too*         '^ 

•i*   A    *uh^  the  dead  of  night,  and  even   into  the   bed-chamber  of 
committed    tli'T  ^ 

,  .,  J        dyina    '^"  "^'''tman,  who.  with   much  difticulty,  escaped  from 
Iheir  hands," 


before  the  mas, 


10 


TIIK  WHITMAN  MA8SACRK. 


I 


i- 


Tho  reader  will  bear  in   inind  that  this  outrage  upofeir 
-Nfrs.  Whitman  was  perpetrated  by  the  Cayusc  Indianilctio 
nearly /o?/r  years  previous  to  the  arrival  of  Bishop  Blaiij  coi 
chet,  the  author,  and  tho  other  Catholic    missionaries  :g)  po: 
Fort  Walla  Walla.  pon 

Such  experience   as  illustrated    in  the   foregoing  cdf ''  " 

lamities  was  not  calculated  to  awaken  a  very  warm  lovf ^  ^' 

for  American  missionaries  in  tho  breasts  of  savages  whl^y  ^ 

came  for  tho  first  time  in  contact  with  white   men,  anf^"^" 

found    iti    such   union    almost   certain    death    to   theif^^'®' 

children.  '^"^' 

i^Cj 


True,  all  the  Indian  children   who  died  throuirh   tlii 


n  in 


'•foarful  mortality"  which  raged  in  the  Willamette  lui.-^ 
.siou  school  wore  not  of  the  Cayuse   nation  ;    but  thc?i^ 
deaths,  taken  in  connection  with  tho  "  fearful  mortality  -^^  <^1 
which  subsequently  carried  otF  whole  tribes  of  Indiai^^^'^ 
east  of  tho  Cascade   mountains,  had    doubtless  creato?^'^'^'^ 
prejudices  in  the  minds  of  the  Cayuse  and  other  India^^''^* 
tribes    which    were    immeasurably    unfavorable    to  tli|^  ^^*^ 
American   mi»sionaries.     It  will   be  borne  in  mind  thtrr  ^^ 
the  Cayuses,  allied  with  other  tribes,  threatened  the  dl   ^^ 
struction  of  tho  whites  prior   to    1S42.     Again    in   th:T*^"e 
year  they  threatened  to  massaci'c   llio  whites  settled  is  ^^^ 
()regon  in    consequcnco   of  suspicions    which   were   iiiF  ''^^^ 
planted  in  the  minds  of  the  Indians  that  the  whites  df*^''*  ^ 
signed  "  to  destroy  them  and  take  possession    of  tbcf '*-''^' 
country."     Tho  arrival  of  a   largo  party  of  emigran'r  ^^^ 
about  this  time,  and  the  sudden  departure  of  J)r.  Whif'*^'''* 
man  for  the  United  States,  with  the  avowed  intention  i^"'"* 
bringing  back  with  him   as  many  as  he  could  enlist  fif^'^cs 
Orciron,  served  to  hasten  them  to   the  above  conclusiol^'-') 
Thus  tho  Indians  saw  in  \)v.  Whitman  the  chief  cause  f^''*' 
bringing  so  many  whites  into  their  country,  for  the  j)ii#l  it 
pose,  as  they  imagined,  of  destroying  their  liberties  ailf'  wi 


■  <km 


^Sm^im^0ttmama^ 


■■^<-  .  jcft— f:.,^ 


THE  WHITMAN  MASSACRE. 


11 


is  outrii^i^o  u[»o|eir  lives,  and  of  occupying  their  lands,  and  this  con- 

Cayusc  Indian  Action  in  their  minds,  "strong  as  holy  writ,"  led  thorn, 

of  Bishop  Hlaiq  conjunction  with  other  causes,  real  and  imaginary, 

missionaries  ioj  perpetrate  a  foul  murder,  that  .fell  with  double  force 

pon  the  hearts  of  the  Catholic  missionaries,  from   the 

le    forcii'oinir  Ci^^  "^*'  ^^'^  ^^  ^^'^  horror  it  created  in  their  minds,  the 

very  warm  lovl^^  ®^  their  property,  which  the  Indians  burned  when 

J  of  8ava""os  whil^y  ^^^°^°'^*^^   their  mission,  but   it   also    endangered 

white   men  anl^''^'  *^^^"  lives,  and  was  the   cause   for  many  years  of 

death    to   tiicif^^®"^'*^^  ^'^^  Catholic  missionaries  from  planting  the 

.(indard  of  the  cross  among  other  Indians  adjacent  to 

ic  Caynso  nation,  who  passed  away  in  the  same  j)agan- 
ied  throngii   tli|^^  j^^  ^^.j^j^^^  ^,^^^,  jj^,^^^^  j^  couscquencc  of  no  Catholic 


WiUameLte  mi 


■flssioDaries  bcinic  amonirst  them. 


itiou  ;    but  the<' 

arful  mortality  '^  charge  has  also  been  brought  against  (ho  Catholic 
tribes  of  Indiaii^^'^'^"*^^*'^^  that  they  carried  arms  and  amunition  to 
oubtless  create?^^'^*^  Iiidian  bands.  This  is  not  only  untrue,  but  the 
md  other  India'"'"f5^  '^  prompted  through  the  basest  feelings  of 
ivorablo  to  tlif '^^^^'  '^^^^'  made  with  the  liopc  of  prejudicing  the  Cath- 
•ne  in  mind  thffr  <^^"*^*^-  ^J^'»^  ^'^^^t*i  in  the  case  are  simply  these  :  The 
reatcncd  the  dl^'''^^'*^  missionaries    who  hud   established  themselves 

Ao-uin  in  tluf'^^o  ^''^  Flat-heads,  Cour-dc-alenes  and  otlier  Indians 
vhites  settled  i^  ^^*^  mountains,  were  annually  in  the  habit  of  visiting 
which  were  iulj^  settlements  for  the  purpose  of  laying  in  their  sup- 
it  the  wliites  tll^^  ^or  the  ensuing  year.  Among  the  more  necessary 
^session  of  tlnf '^'^^'^  iudispensible  to  those  Avho  live  iu  the  region  of 
■ty  of  cmigran^^  Koeky  Mountains,  is  powder  and  shot,  to  bo  used  in 
urc  of  J)r.  \Vliii"^i^i'i"tt  gtinic  during  the  long  and  dreary  winter  re- 
)wcd  intention  4"'^  W'here  they  have  to  live  sometimes  six  months  in  , 

could  enlist  fljcccssion  upon  venison  or  other  game.  The  Indians 
ibove  conclusioi^'^^)  8"i<^e  1840,  been  well  sui)plied  with  arms;  but 
[he  chief  cause  f^^  supplies  of  amunition  would  become  exhausted, 
itry,  for  the  ])ii»l  it  became  a  question  of  life  and  death— not  only  to 
leir  liberties  aii'  missionary  himself,  but  also  to  those  with  whom  he 


'    IMIflPJ.. 


12 


THE  WHITMAN  MASSACRE. 


}  b 

oet 
1(1  f 
.1  c 


resided,  and  all  the  IndianR  in  his  vicinity — whether  1 
returned  from  his  annual   trip  with  or   without  ami 
nition.     So  great  was  the  necessity  for  amunition  amoi 
the  Indians,  and  so  well  woi*c  their  necessities  in  this  r 
spect  understood  by  the  early  settlors  in  Oregon,  thi 
Governor  Abcrnethy — in  his  message  to  the  Legislati^l 
Assembly   which   convened    early    in    1849 — asked   i\      , 
Legislature  to  repeal    an   act  which  had    been  pass(^     , 
at  a  previous  session,  forbiding  persons  selling  or  co  .  ^ 
veying   arms   and  amunition  to   Indians,    and  gave  ; 
his  motive  for  this  request  the  toUowiiig  cogent  reason  .  .  , 
•'  As  many  of  the  Indians  live  by  Imnting,   and  a  sni!^^ 
quantity  of  powder  and  load  is  aotuiilly   necessary  1     '' 
provide  for  their  wants,  I  think  the  law  should  be  mol 
ified  80  as  to  permit  the  sale  of  powder  and  lead  | 
friendly   Indians."     It  was    foi"  this  purpose — and  tig'"'' 
alone — that  the  Catholic  luissionarios  included  nowd"^' 
and  lead  in  their    annual   supplies — but   these    supplil 
were  intended  for  their  own  peaceable  Indians — as  f'^^ 
Catholic  missionary — under  any  circumstance  ever  col""  ^ 
veved  munitions  of  war  to  hostile   bands  of  Indians  i^^*^^ 
war  Avith  American  settlers  upon  Amoi'ican  soil.     Tlif^''^t 
I  hope,  finally  <lisposes  of  this  sljxi. lor  which  the  enviin*^'*^ 
ot  Catholicity  have  for  years  rulletl  under  their  tongiil'*"^ 
as  a  '•  sweet  morsel."  w^yir 

P  tlic 
Finally,  this  unfortunate  massacre  stands  in   the  rtii  ,  „ 

ords  of  history  as  another  ovidonce  of  the  unstabiliJ 
of  the  Indian  character,  espc'cially  when  operated  upT 
by  superstitious  fears  arising  from  the  conviction  amojl . 
tlie  Indians  that  their  country,  their  ])ropei'ty,  and  thtM-  , 
very  existence  even,  was  endangered  by  the  influx!. 
Americans.     It  is  characteristic  of  Indian  justice  to  cnrj 
sider  as  forfeited  the  life  of  the   Doctor  or  "  Modicir  '"^ 


Man"  who  fails  to  ofiect  a  curif,  or  whose  patient  (}4a 


i 


tn 


THE  WHITMAN  MASSACIIE. 


1:5 


itv — whether  U,  .,  ,        ,       ,  .    ,       ,         ^      r     ii  •  .•       v      -n 

•'     ,^^      ^ jhilst  uiiacr  Ins  treuiiuent.     In  tins  coiinoctiou  it   will 

boriio  in   mind  tluit  ihc  witb   of  Tamahas   (the  imir- 


r   without  am 
iiTiunition  amoij 
sHsities  in  this 


rer)  wlio  Ivillod  Dr.    Wliilniaii,   died   wiiilst   under  tlie 

jHSiti       n  joetor's  treatment  a  slioi't  time  jtrevioiis  to  the  massacre, 

in  Oregon    thl  J  ^,^j^,^^^^^^.  .J  .^  ^^^  ^^^.,^,^j._,^^^^j   ^.^^_^  ^j^,^^   j^^.    ^y,^i|„j.j„ 

o  the  ■'^o''  I  id  discovered  Tamahn^  \n  a  suspicious  attitude,  a  few 
1849— asked  i\  ^^j,^  anterior  to  liis  death.  These  facts  estahlisli  a 
lad    been  P^^sst  .edetermination  on  the  part  of  r^/ma/i(J.s  and  his  aecom- 


3  soUin*^  or  co 


» ices  in  bis  murderous  work,  and  wei'c  doubtless  anion;; 
us,    anc    |]^t  e  principal  causes  which  led  to  the  horrible  butchery 

r  coirent  reason|^j^.j^  followed. 


nir 


and   a  Binr^ 


albe  candid  reader  wdl  also  bear  iii  mind   that  of  all 
,11 V   necessary  ,1     .    ,.  ,      .    ,         ,     ,    .      ,       ,     .       ,      . 

'' .      ,,,  Me  liiduvns  wiio  imbrued  their    hands  in  the  innocent 

,v  should  be  mol     ,„„„,,. 

,   ,      ,  iuod   01  tlie   rrcsbvterian  missionaries,  not  one  amonii 
nler  and  lead  T  "^  ^  j 

1   iiW'tn  prof csscA  the  CuthoUi'  ruith.  and  in  order  to  exhibit 
urposo — and  tiij      '    • 

•111  ..  ^,..,ia^'  character  of  the  Cayuse  Indians,  we  need  only  refer 
luchided  powdl  ,   ,  •'  "^ n     , 

^    .,  .,.,.i;i  tlie  opinion  exin-essed    hv   a   corresiioiulent    ot    tlu' 

it   these    snpplil  i  i  .  i 

r    ,.  jtcQon  American,  \y\\o  ^ix\s: 

e  Indiiius — as  1  ^  ' 

iistancc  ever  cor  The   Oayuses    had    become    a    prayinjjr   people.     In 

ids  of  Indians  fi^o^t  every  lo(J<^e  the   family  altar  was  erected.     No 

..:,...,,  u<»il      'Pliliil't  on  the  morniii<jr  of  the  l)lood\'  2!Uh  the  murderers 
1  ican  •^oii.      xii^  o  V 

'bich  the  en».;mif  ^'*^  scrupulous  to  ol>serve  their  morning  devotions — 
il  M"  their  tonirii  ^^''^  ^^  evening,  while  the  dead  bodies  of  the  slain  lav 
buried,  the  food  of  the  fowls  of  heaven  and  the  beasts 
the  earth.     One  of  the  actors  of  this  horrible  scene 
ands  in   tne  n  ^^  ^  member  of  our  church,  and  while  he  held  one  of 
3  captives  as  hi«  wife,  tlu'  sj)ort  of  his  brutal  passions, 
was  careful  to  have  morning    and  evening   prayer, 
onviction  amo  ^j  ^^   ^^^,^^^   ^  portion  of  the  scripture  from  his  book 
ropcHy,  ana  tin  ^j^^,^  ^^^  printed  Avbile  he  was  in  our  school  at  CUcar 
by   the  i"fliix  Ij^^j.  „* 

ian  justice  to  cff 

tor  or  "  Medicir '^'^'"S  these  facts,  in  connection  with   other  equally 

hose    patient    dm\  missioDury  .station  amon^  the  Ncz   Pcrcus  nenr  tlic 
wt  Lapwiii,  Idaho,  ami  umliT  chiiigu  of  Mr.  Sj>al(ru)g. 


)f  the  unstabili 
Ml  operated  npi 


pru.sout  site  oi 


1 

1 


9 


14 


THE  WHITMAN  MASSACRE. 


important  and  convincing  evidenco,  no  impartial  rair  [ju,s< 
can  be  warpod  into  tho  coiiclu.sion  that  the  Catholic  mii^^Q 
sionarios  wore  in  the  remotest  degree,  responsible  for  tij-jye 
atrocities  at  Dr.  Whitman's  mission.  Aside  from  tl|j,,,y^ 
horror  whieh  pervades  the  mind  of  every  christi;|],(j,^ 
when  contemplating  the  horribk'  sacritice  of  human  W^^^^  ^ 
the  natural  current  of  events  even,  preclude  the  posi|^]ji^] 
bility  of  any  collusion  between  missionaries  of  one  faiti|>,j,|j, 
and  Indians  of  another.  Tlie  Catiiolic  missionaries  h!jj^.,,(^.^ 
never  interfered  with  the  Cay  use  Indians  under  char^n^ 
of  Dr.  Whitman  and  his  associates.  They  could  havei|^,]j,,, 
possible  influence  over  them,  either  through  spiritii^,,,,,, 
advice  or  temporal  friendship.  Bishop  Tilanchetand  tii.fiy^^ 
other  CathoHc  missionaries  arrived  at  Fort  Walla  "Wal^,]  j^ 
in  September,  1847,  where  they  r'3mained  until  the  2^^j|(|,].ii 
of  November,  at  which  time  the}'  opened  their  first  inj|i.,jii| 
sion  among  the  Umatilla  Indians  (not  one  of  whom  ^\ii]\  i 
concerned  in  the  murder)  at  a  distance  of  twenty-tifini^  , 
miles  from  Dr.  Whitman's  station.  At  a  council  of  t|,.ij^(; 
Chiefs  of  Indian  tribes  located  along  the  baidis  of  tfiif, 
Columbia  between  the  Dalles  and  Walla  VV^alla,  call 
for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  the  wishes  of  tho  sevc 
chiefs  relative  to  having  Catholic  missionaries  amo 
them,  Bishop  Blanchet  had  peremptorily  refused  t 
offer  of  some  of  the  Cayuse  Chiefs  to  dispossess 
Whitman.  At  a  subsequent  period,  the  writer  reitera 
to  Tilokaikt  (one  of  the  chiefs  of  the  Cayuse  nation,  w 
had  tendered  the  mission  lands)  tho  refusal  of  t 
Bishop,  and  again  rejected  the  offer.  In  order  to 
this  matter  visibly  at  rest,  the  writer  proceeded^., 
once  to  the  camp  of  the  young  Chief  (a  Cayuse  f 
dian  who  had  been  converted  and  who  for  sevc*,, 
years  had  been  expecting  Catholic  missionaries)  si^ 
there  entered  upon  his  missionary  labors,  occupyin 


unii 
its 


ilr 


'V 


!fro 

P'- 
jl)cll 

iids 
lue 


TlIK  WHITMAN  MASSACnr,.  15 

impartial  niir|)U^c  tliat  luul  boon  oivctod  C<n'  tho  Young  CMucf.  who 
the  Catholic  mi^ivc  the  missionarios  ll»o  uso  of  it.     Thus  it  will  ho  per 
■<ponsihlo  for  tlj|.ive(l  that  tho  Catholic  missiuu  was  located  many  mile 
Anido  from  t^om  Dr.  Whitnum's  mission — among  Indians. 
every    ehristin(i,oni  wore   already   Catholics,    but    not 


one 


ny  miles 
some  of 
of  whom 


^  ^ ., —    ^  ,    - 

JO  of  human  li|.j>^  concerned  in  the  massacre.  The  murder  of  Dr. 
jcludo  tho  pos^ljitmiui  and  his  associates  oeeurcd  on  the  2!Hh  of  No- 
,rios  of  one  fait;^,,i|jor,  one  day  after  tho  Catholic  mission  was  eom- 
missionaries  h:,j^,j(.cd.  It  may  hero  he  reasonably  asked  :  Avhat  evil 
ns  under  char!j|flmji^(.(x  eould  the  Catholic  missionarios — oven  if  so 
loy  could  havoij^-iiiicd — have  exorcised  over  a  tribe  of  Indians  among 
hrough  8piritii(|,(,i,i  they  never  resided,  and  whoso  lodges  were  twcn- 
Blanchotand  t|.fivc  miles  distant,  to  induce  them  to  perpetrate  tho 
''ort  Walla  Walli^il  imirdor  of  thirteen  innocent  peoi»le?  The  answer 
od  until  the  2^j<plaiii — neither  time  nor  circumstances  could  })ossibly 
od  their  first  nii^i-iiiiL  them  to  have  any  inilueuce  or  communication 
lie  of  whom  ^^ih  tho  Indians  who  commiuod  the  massacre.  To 
ee  of  tM'enty-fi|iiilc  otherwise  is  not  only  repugnant  to  every  fooling  of 
;  a  council  of  tfi-jsiflr^ii  el,aritv,  but  of  common  sense. 
the  banks  of  tfcyj|.jj  ^.hese  remarks  tho  author  presents  tho  present 
*ume  to  the  reading  public,  believing  that  the  }»orusal 
its  pages  will  not  only  prove  interesting  to  tho  gen- 
1  reader— containing  as  they  d(;  a  tragic  chapter  iu 
early  history  of  this  coast,  and  enibracing  incidents 
frontier  life  sufHcient  to  interest  the  student  of  his- 
■y — but  this  little  work  may  also  prove  its  utility  by 
lyuse  nation,  "^^i|,yiii,,o-  the  atmosphere  of  prejudice  into  which  some 
iids   may    have    unthinkingly    wandered,    and    bring 

,110  to  their  better  nature  tho  pure  light  of    historic 
ter    proceeded  ^jj 

f  (a   Cayuse  1    '  j.  B.  a.  HHOUILLET,   V.  G. 

who    for   sevci^,  ^j ,  ,^  Walla.  August,  ISG'J 
missionaries)  " 
jors.  occupying 


,lla  Walla,  call 
los  of  tho  seve 
visionaries  amo 
orily  refused  t 
to  dispossess 
)  writer  reitera 
lyuse  nation, 
3  refusal  of 
la   order   to 


h 


m 


'!, 


i 


h' 


fhe  ! 

ft  her 
ridia 

lat  t 
lat  i 
nUh 
ibe 

'ttlei 
The 
alio: 
r,  t 
alia 
e  as 
vice 
idiai 
itil  1 
udso 
)rt 
iiid.s 
iiiijii 
orts 
uy  8 
ntin 
ifties 


I 


THE  WHITMAN  MASSACRE. 


J  A  deplorable  event  si^nalined  the  autumn  of  the  year 
|S47  in  Oiof^on,  and  broui^ht  eonHternation  to  all  hearts, 
the  20th  of"  November,  Dr.  Marcus  Whitman,  PrcHby- 
fcfrian  missionary  among  the  Cayuses,  his  Avife  and  ei^ht 
Itlier  Americans,  fell  victims  to  the  barbarity  of  the 
Indians,  and  three  others  shared  the  same  fate  a  few 
ia3'S  afterwards.  For  a  time  all  the  people  apprehended 
iiat  the  fur}'  of  the  savages  would  not  stop  there,  but, 
l»at  after  having  made  new  victims  of  the  women  and 
Siildren  who  remained  alive  at  the  station,  passing  from 
li'ibe  to  tribe,  it  would  excite  suddenl}'  all  tne  neighbor- 
Indians  and  bring  them  at  once  upon  the  Willamette 
ttlements. 

The  Catholic  Bishop  of  Walla  Walla  and  his  clergy, 
ationcd  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  place  of  the  disas- 
r,  together  with  the  clerk  in  charge  of  Fort  Walla 
alia  and  some  other  persons,  were  however  so  fortun- 
|e  as  to  quiet  by  degrees,  through  their  influence,  their 
jlvice  and  their  repeated  solicitations,  the  fury  of  the 
dians,  and  save  the  lives  of  the  widows  and  orphans, 
itil  Mr.  P.  S.  Ogden,  one  of  the  chief  Factors  of  the 
fudson's  Bay  Company  at  Fort  Vancouver,  came  up  to 
%)rt  Walla  Walla,  and  having  bought  them  from  the 
iinds  of  the  Indians,  had  the  consolation  and  glory  of 
tinging  them  down  in  safety  to  the  Willamette.  The 
i'orts  both  of  the  gentlemen  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Com- 
iiy  and  of  the  clergy,  had  also  the  good  effect  of  pre- 
nting  for  a  time  the  Indians  from  carrying  their  hos- 
i^ties  any  farther. 


H?J? 


18 


THK  WHITMAN   AFASSArHK. 


if  ^ 


It 


t 


The  causos,  both  ri'inotc  jiiid  imimvliatc.  of  the;  di^  II 
lister,  wcri'  ('l(>ar,  and  left  n<>  (loiil)ts  in  the  minds  of  utii 
prejudiced  persons,  who  knew  the  liistory  of  tliese  eougjH'j 
tries,  and  the  (Uspositions.  j)reji\dices.  and  su])erstitioifer 
of  the  rndlans.  It  was  evident  that  the  ruvaujes  eausiidi^ 
amoiiL(st  them  l>y  the  nu'a^h's  and  dysentery.  toi:;eth<iiai 
with  false  reports  and  advices  of  a  vai^ahond  who  w^n-i 
in  the  empUn' of  \h\  Whitman,  were  the  (>\\\\  motivijie 
that  Mr<i;ed  the  Indians  to  that  act  of  atrocity,  ii'.clini^Tl 
as  tlu'y  Aven'  to  helieve  these  i-epoi'ts  from  the  siispicio#di 
and  dissatisfaction  that  they  hail  hecn  for  a  Ion;;-  tmijlli 
entertaining  a<;ainst  Dr.  Whitman  in  particular  and  tl///c 
Americans  in  general.  lOte 

But  a  certain  gentleman,  moved  on  hy  religious  fanAui? 
icisni.  and  ashamed  of  owing  his  own  life  and  that  of  l4r. 
family  and  friends  to  some  priests,  began  to  ins''iua|is\\ 
false  susjiicions  about  the  true  causes  of  the  disastei'-l  tl 
proceeded  bj'  degri^es  to  make  more  o|)en  aecusationi.lu 
and  finally  declai'ed  publicly  that  the  liishop  of  Walin  t 
Walla  and  liis  clergy  -were  the  first  cause  and  grolat 
movers  of  all  the  evil  The  gentleman  is  the  Hev.  II.  lliic 
Spahling,  whoso  lift'  had  been  saved  from  the  Indians  lie  n 
a  priest  at  the  jH'ril  of  his  own.  9  a 

His   first    insinuations    were   so    nuilieious   and   thjore 
meaning  so  well  uiulerstood.  that  Colonel  Gilliam  ai|>ald 
his  troops,  about  starting  for  the  purpose  of  chastisiil  th 
the  murderers  at  Wailatpu,  sai<l  publicly  that  the  priesi'cui 
missionaries  of  the  Cayuses.  were  deserving  death,  ai|e  li 
that  they  Avould  shoot  or  hang  the  first  one  of  them  tlitil  s 
should  meet.     A  letter,  however,  written  to  Colonel  (ifgiv 
liam  by  the  Bishop  of  AVtdla  Walla,  and  some  explaiilat  ( 
tions  given  l)y  a  priest  to  him  and  to  the  Commissaill  of 
General  J.  Palmer,  before   they  started  for  the   up]if'v  1 
country,  satisfied  them,  and  tlu*  Colonel  declared  thioix 
that  •■Mr.    Spalding  could   not  have  spoken  so  with(||i(k' 
being  crazy,"  and  Gen.  I 'aimer  said  that  "  he  ought  mcgo 
to  be  allowed  any  more  to  go  among  the  Indians."   fly, 
relation   of    the   ])rinci])al    circumstances    of   the    awC\ii 
deed,  which    Cohniel   (iilliam  himself  had  asked   of  oliud 
of  the  missionaries  of  the  Cayuses,  dissipated  complctJ-tod 
his  prejudices  against  the  ])riests,  and  from  that  monul 
to  his  death  he  did  not  cease  to  be  om*  of  their  best  lUJ 
most  sincere  friends. 


THK  WHITMAN  MASSACRE. 


18 


ilialo.  of  th(!  <lil  II<Mi.  P.  H.  liiirnott  l)ein<j;  jiwaro  of  the  (liffoiviit  accu- 
llio  niiiKls  of  ulitions  inado  hy  Mr.  Spaldiiiy;,  in  his  conversation  and 
iry  of  llicsi'  couli'i'acliiMi;-.  an<l  of  tlu'  iiufavoi'ah'o  iinpri'ssions  thai  they 
aiid  snpvrstitioift'ro  prothiciiin-  upon  [(crsons   ignorant    and  already  ))ro- 

0  rava<i;c's  caiistidit'Ofl,  asko<l  him  in  1S4S,  to  o;ivo  him  in  wi'iting  the 
scntory.  toii;i'lh<Jiari!;t's  ho  iiad  made  and  the  testimony  whicli  suj>[)orte{l 
gahond  who  w|ifm,  in  (»r(Ur  that  he  mii^lit  see  what  means  of  (kd'enec 
the  only    motiv^ie  aeeiised  could  employ. 

atrocity,   ir.clim^  That  demand  was  followed  sometime  afterwards  hy  the 

oin  the  suspicio#dilication    of  a   letter    from   Mr.   Si)alding   and    of  hi.-^ 

for  a   loni;-   tiiiilHistory   (»f  the  Massacre  at   Wailatpii"  in  the  Oregon 

)articular  and  {\%ini)'ictin.     These    writin«;-s,    intermixed    with     editorial 

iDtes  in  the  same  sense,  contain  many  grievious  nccusa- 

)y  religious  fan;i|»ns  a_i;ainst  the  cleruy  ii"d   the  Catholics   in  general. 

i'fe  and  tli.nt  of  l|r.   Burnett   then    hegan    in    the    Orcf/itn    Amcriviin   an 

legan  to  ins^'uniiiswer  that  he  intended  to  pursue,  when  the  cessation 

of  the  disastci'-f  the  journal  obliged  him  to  suspend  it. 

open   accusatioiJ.Iinlgiij^g  then  that  it  would  he  to  the  interest  of  relig- 

liishop  of   Waliii  that  tlie  [)ublic  shoidd  l>e  informed   of  the  truth  in 

,  cause   and  grclat    matter,    in   order  to  destroy   the   hu<l   impressions 

1  is  the  IJev.  11.  lliich  such  atrocious  accusations  might  have  made  on 
om  the  Indians  lie  minds  of  some  persons,  I  have  considered  it  my  duty. 

I  a  priest,  to  resume  the  task  of  Mr.  liurnett  and  to  re- 
ilicious  and  thii)i"e  the  tacts  which  have  heen  misconstrued  by  J\lr. 
lonel  Gilliam  ai|)alding  and  others.  Such  is  the  origin  and  the  (lesign 
H)se  of  chastisiil  this  writing.  It  was  prepared  in  tl»e  fall  of  1S48,  but 
ly  that  the  priesl-cumstances  did  not  allow  me  to  have  it  published  for 
i'ving  death,  aj|e  first  time  until  the  year  ISoo. 

one  of  themtlnjjl  show  first  the  causes  of  the  massacre  of  Wailatjui. 
en  to  Colonel  Cilgive  next  a  minute  journal  (.)f  the  principal  events 
id  some  ex])laii  at  occurred  in  the  Walla  Walla  country  from  the  arri- 
the  Commissai  1  of  the  Bishop  and  his  clergy  there  until  the  moment 
ed  for  the  upp  .>y  left  that  country  for  the  Willamette  settlements,  and 
nel  declared  th  •uncludo  by  a  summary  of  all  th  /rinci]»al  charges 
)oken  so  with(||i(le  against  the  Catholic  clergy  l)y  Sir.  Si)alding,  the 
at  ''  he  ought  illryo/i  American,  and  others,  uj)  to  the  month  of  October, 
the  Indians."  |1S,  with  an  answer  to  each  of  them. 
es  of  the  awCVu  appendix  has  also  been  added  wherein  will  be 
ia<l  asked  of  <|ind  many  documents  confirmatory  of  the  evidence  in- 
ii])ated  complctJ'ted  in  the  body  of  the  work, 
from  that  monul  '  •    •       .  ■    ,  •       . 

of  their  best  ui|  •    ■        m  •   '  '       •<.<•»,• 


I  ! 


h' 


2a 


TlIE   UIIITMAN  .MASSACRE. 


CIIAPTEU    I. 

The  remote  and  immediate  causes  which  led  to  the 

man  massacre 


0, 


nn 


iTiVid   (Ml  n 
iiivrios  iiA". 
10  nnf()|c(f 


ry 

♦rri 

riiat  c'Vi'Hts  liad  occurred  prior  to  the  arrival 
BiHliop  UlaiiclK't  and  tii«)  other  Catholic  niissiotu 
AValla  Walla  in  1848,  which  ultimately  led  to  th( 
tiinatc  trrt,L!:*'dy  at  Dr.  Whitman's  station  will  aj)i)e;tiv( 
evident  to  every  iiiiprojiidiced  reader  who  calmly  co4en( 
siders  the  following  facts  : —  iluc 

I.  Mr.  V  Kinlay,  the  intimate  friend  of  Dr.  Whifeti 
man,  had  Ix  for  four  or  five  years  in  change  of  Foii|VI. 
Walla  Walla.  Diirin*^  his  stay  then;,  heiiiij;  aware  of  tl(|ii  - 
evil  dispositions  of  the  Indians  towai  .s  the  Doctor,  li  o 
warned  him  very  often  that  ho  was  in  danger,  that  tilth 
Indians  hated  him,  and  that  ho  had  hotter  go  awalilhi 
hecause  he  was  afraid  they  would  kill  him.  ^ftor  l»ut 
left  the  Fort  ho  did  not  cease  to  advise  him  every  yo«n  i 
to  leave  Wailatpu,  telling  him  that  if  he  persisted  ii\^I] 
remaining  there,  tlie  Indians  would  certainly  kill  hi|ios 
sooner  or  later.  lay 

II.  Some  years  ago,  prior  to  1848,  Dr.  McLaughliiMe 
then  Governor  of  Fort  Vancouver  and  of  all  the  cstaitho 
lishments  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  west  of  tly'^II 
Rocky  Mountains,  Judging  hy  some  difficulties  which  Ilntli 
Whitman  had  with  the  Indians,  that  it  was  dangoroiasii 
for  him  to  stay  any  longer  among  them,  wrote  to  him  iir  ^ 
urge  him  to  leave  his  mission,  at  least  for  some  time,  ailro  h 
to  come  doAvn  to  tho  Willamette,  telling  him  that  It  In 
feared  the  Indians  would  kill  him  if  he  should  persist  i'ln^ 
remaining  among  them  under  sucli  circumstances,  ll  tl 
copy  of  that  letter  was  inserted  in  the  journal  of  Fof  at 
Vancouver.  |  Wi 

III.  Mr.  R.  Newell — agent  among  the  Nez  Percinaji 
Indians — who  lived  many  years  with  the  Nez  Perci  y  (1 
and  who  had  an  opportunity  of  knowing  tho  Cayu>i  >,  af 
well,  often  said  to  Dr.  Whitman  that  he  ought  to  lea  era] 
Wailatpu,  hecause  the  Indians  hated  him  and  would  k  n,  n 
him.  He  told  me  himself,  speaking  of  Dr.  Whrtni  od  j 
and  Mr.  Spalding,  that  he  was  astonished  they  had  sto  X. 
so  long.     "  Mr.  Spalding  would  have  been  killed  lo|t,  1 


■*3BiBriaM*ri  witmu  <.\ 


Tlir  WHITMAN  MASSACRE. 


21 


io,  said  he,  if  it  had  not  hci'ii  tor  his  wife,  wiuj  wan 
|ry  much  liked  hy  tiie  Tndijins." 
It'll  to  the  ]Mni^^  •  J^'*-  5W'i<T-  ^  nuMiiher  of  tlie  Le^ishitui-e  of  the 
♦rritoiy.  warned  in  lilto  manner  Dr.  Whitnmn,  as  a 
lond,  to  clear  a  way  from  the  Cay  uses,  hucause  if  he 
I    the   arrival    '11  not  they  would  kill  him. 

[•  missionaries  !rf^'.  Messrs.  J.  Douglas  and  P.  S.  OH;<kii.  both  chief 
led  to  the  unfoictors  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  at  Fort  Van- 
itiou  will  appi'tfiver,  together  with  the  in(»st  part  of  Dr.  Whitman's 
who  calmly  co^ends,  had  been  for  a  long  time  trying  every  3'ear  to 
i^uce  him  to  come  down  to  the  Wiilamette  for  his 
>ik1  of  Dr.  Whiiety. 

I  charge  of  Fo«jVI.     Tn  (he  spring  of  1*^4S,  Gen.  Joel  Palmer,  (he  In- 

I'ing  aware  of  tl«n  Agent  and  Commissary  (Jeneral  for  the  troops,  and 

s  the  Doctor.  !»  of  three  Commissioners  a})pointod  to  treat  for  j>eace 

dani'-er,  that  tilth  the   Indiana,  said  in    n\y  presence  at  Fort    vValla 

better  ""o    awii4illa,  that  he  and  the  other  Commissioners  had  found 

I  him.     After  liut  the  Doctor's  house  many  letters  which  ])roved  that 

him  every  yea^n  in  1S45  he  was  considered  as  being  in  danger. 

f  he  persisted  i|\'JI.     Ill  treatment   had  been    received   at   different 

L'crtainlv  kill  hi^es  previously  by  Dr.    Whitman,  Mr.  Spalding,  Mr. 

lay  and  Mr.  Smith,  as  is  evident  from  the  statements 

1  Dr.  McLaughlilMossrs.   Touiiin,  Gervais  and  McKa},  that  are  found 

of  all  the  esttijthe  following  pages. 

an}'  west  of  tl^^III.     Mr.    Spalding    says   in    his    writings:    "The 

cultics  which  ninths  of  deep  solicitude  we  had,  occasioned  by  the  in- 

]  was  dangeroiasing  menacing  demands  of  the  Indians  for  pay  for 

wrote  to  him  «ir  water,  their  wood,  their  air,  their  lands Wo 

)r  some  time,  aiire  hold  ourselves  ready  to  leave  the  country  whenever 

ng  him  that  ■  Indians  as  a  body  wished  it Dr.  Whitman  twice 

should  persist  fmg  the  last  j  ear  called  the  Cayuses  together,  and 
*'  "  em  if  a  majority  Avished  he  would  leave  the  coun- 

once Dr.  Whitman  held  himself  ready  to  sell 

latpu  Station  to  the  Catholic  mission,  whenever 

the  Nez  Perclnajoritj'   of  the  Cayuses  might  wish  it AV^hen 

the  Nez  Perci  y  (the  Indians)  returned  from  California  two  years 
ing  the  Cayu^^  >,  after  the  death  of  the  son  of  the  Walla  Walla  chief, 
e  ou'dit  to  lea  eral  meetings  were  held  to  consider  whether  Dr.  Whit- 
m  and  would  1<  n,  myself,  or  some  other  American  teacher  should  be 
of  Dr.  Whitm  ed  as  a  set-off  for  Elijah." 

ed  they  had  sto  X.     The  same  Mr.  Spalding  said  on  the  31st  of  Au- 
bcen  killed  io|t,  1846,  to  Dr.  Poujade,  (sec  his  statement)  :  "  The 


11 


!  SnOUlU    p«.-irair.t  jiiif,     v 

nrcumstances.    li  ther 

e  iournal   of  F(i  at  or 

•"  I  Wail 


0'.^ 


I  r 

I 

3,«' 


41 


•)■> 


TIIK  WHITMAN  MAHSACRK. 


Doc 
I 

^01 


Iiidiiuis  urc  <^'ctting  worse  cvciy  day  for  two  or  tlii-ji^c 
years  ba,'' ;  tlicy  are  threatening-  to  turn  us  out  of  thcjni 
missions.  A  few  days  ago  they  tore  down  my  fencclf  t 
and  I  do  not  know  what  the  Missionary  lioard  of  'Nif^ 
York  means  to  do.  It  is  a  fact  wo  arc  doino;  no  e:oo|ist< 
when  the  emigration  passes,  the  Indians  all  run  oft'l^o 
trade,  and  return  worse  than  when  we  came  amon^sa 
them."  y  ^^ 

X.  Dv    Whitman    had  declared  many  times  duriiit 
the  last  two  years  of  his  life  that  he  wished  to  iea\i 
that  he  knew  the  Indians  were  ill  disposed  towards  lil 
and  that  it  was  dangerous  for  him  to  remain  among  the 
that  for  a  coui)lo  of  years  ho  had  done  nothing  for 
teaching  of  the  Indians,  because  they  would  not  listen 
him.     lie  said  in  the  fall  of  1S47   that  he  woi'ld  Icn 
certainly   in  the  spring  for  the  Dalles,  where    he  had 
ready  bought  the    Methodist    mission      He  Avent  so 
then  as  to  ask  Mr.  McKay  to  pass  tlie  winler  with  hi 
for  fear  of  th^  Indians,  and  seemed  disposed  to  exchan 
bis  place  at  Wailatpu  for  another  one  in  the  Willamet' 
(See  Mr.  McKay's  statement).     Mr.  Sjialding   declaifr''s 
also,  in  the  winter  of  1847,  that  for  thico  or  four  ycl '^^ 
ho  had  ceased   to  teach  the  Indians,  as  tlioy  refused  fc''^''^ 
hear  him  (Sec  Gervais'  statement).  fsio 

XI.  From  a  letter  of  Dr.  White  Indian  Agent,  wf 'or 
ten  in  1845  to  the  Indian  Department  at  Washingtoiil'i) 
is  evident  that  at  that  time  the  whole  colon}'  was  in  a  t|"^'^ 
ri bio  fright,  e::pocting  tha^  r.11  the  T>u1ia!.  tril.^^  ^^^  f -^^. 
Walla  Walla  country  would  massacre  the  Aniei'icifC''' 
who  were  upon  their  lands,  and  next  would  conT:^  do|^" 
upon  the  Willamette  settlement  and   destroy  the  avIi 

'^'^^^"y-  .  .  *  <  1 

XII.  In  spite  of  the  enthusiasm  that  had  signalif  •-' 

the  first  year  of  the  establishment  of  his  mission,  f^''^' 
Spalding  was  complaining  even  as  early  as  1^40,  thatF  ^' 
had  very  little  hope  in  the  dispositions  of  the  Nez  iP''^ 
ces.  (Sec  Mr.  Spalding's  Letters,  printed  in  the  AmfOt't 
can  Board  of  Missionaries  for  Foreign  Missions,  public  tb 
ed  in  1842.)  pJ 

XIII.  A  missionary  of  the  Spokans,  wi-iting  to  F^<^c 
Whitman  as  early  as  ISS'J,  said  :  "The  failure  of  tjc  y< 
mission  (the  Spokan)  is  so  strongly  impressed  upon  »'^  ^" 


t 
fak. 


v.. 

for  two  or  tliv 
irn  us  out  of  the 


THE  WHITMAN  MASSACRE. 


28 


nd  that  I  feel  it  necessary  to  have  cane  in  hand  a  id 
much  as  one  shoe  on,  ready  for  a  move.     1  see  noth- 


down  my  fence  I  but  the  power  of  God  that  can  save  us," 

irv  Board  of  N(P'hese  facts  and  statements  prove  clearly  that  there 


p  Americans  in  general,  and  that  they  formed  a  leaven 
>anv  times  duriiit  had  been  fermenting  for  several  years. 
3  wished  to  leav 
^/oscd  towards  li 
Emain  among  the 


CHAPTBH  II. 


10  nothing  for  t 
would  not  listen 
at  ho  woi'ld  lc:i 
wiicrc    ho  \vAi\0ocu/netitary  Evidence  Proving  the  foregoing  assertions 


II      Ho  went  so 
p  winter  with  hi 
^poscd  to  cxchaii 
in  the  Wilhunct 


MR.  .JOHN    TOUPIN's    STATEMENT,  IN    1H48. 

•  I  have  been  seventeen  years  employed  as  interpreter 
Fort  Walla  Walla,  and  I  left  that  Fort  about  seven 


Si.alding   doclaifi''s  ago- 


I  was  there  when  Mr.  Parker,  in  1835,  came 

hico   or^four  yci  *'^^^^'t  P'^^^*^^   for  Presbyterian    missions   among  the 
.^  i.v.    -KT      -r.  1.-    ask  lands  for  thesf 

Isions.     Mo  employed  me  as  interpreter  in  his  ncgo 


IS  tliov  refused  I'u^^'s  and  the  Noz  Percos,  and  to  as! 

Isions.     Ho  employed  me  as  interpr 

ndian  Afcnt,  wf^^ns  with   the   Indians  on  that  occasion.     Mr.  Pom- 

•it'Washins'-toiil "5  ^''^  gentleman  then  in  charge  of  the  Fort,  accom- 

oloiiy  was  i^^ii  a  tf '^-'^  '^'"^  t.o  ihe  Cayuses  and  the  Xez  Forces. 

fliai'  tviho«  of  I -^-I^''-    Parker,    in    company   with    Mr.    Pombrun,   sxh. 

re  the   A  moric.f '^^^^^''    ^"'^     myself,     went    first    to    tiie    Cayuses 

would  como  dor"     ^^^    lands     called    Wailatpu,   that   belonged   to 

destroy  the  will    t,hree     chiefs  —  Splitted     Lip,    or     Yomtipi,    lied 

luk,   or  Waptachtakamal,  and    Tilaukaikt.     Having 

I'lt  had  sionali:  ^  ^''^''^^  ^t  that  place  he  told  them  that  he  was  coming 

)f  ids'  niisston     '^'loct  a  place  to  build  a  preaching  house  to  teach  them 

■Iv  a'^  1^-10   that  ^'  ^^  \'\yQ,  and  to  teach  school  to  their  children  ;  that 

ns  of  the  Nez  T  ^vould  not  come  himself  to  establish  the  mission,  but 

ted  in  the  Am  cx^tor  or  a  medicine  man  would   come  in  his  place; 

Missions  publi  ^  the  Doctor  would  be  the  chief  of  the  mission,  and 

dd  come  in  the  following  spring.     '  I  come  to  select 

'ins  writing  to  ^'^^'^   for  a  mission,' said  he,  '  but  I  do  not  intend  to 

The  failure^  of  I  ^  yo^i^  lan;.;s  for  nothing.     After  the  Doctor  is  come. 

mnrcssed  upon  f  ^  ^'^'^  coine  every  year  a  big  ship,  loaded  with  goods 


24 


THE  WHITMAN  MASSACRE. 


to  bo  divided  among  the  Indians.  Those  goods  will  lu 
be  sold,  but  given  to  you.  The  missionaries  will  briii 
you  plow^s  and  hoes,  to  teach  you  how  to  cultivate  tl| 
land,  and  they  will  not  sell,  but  give  them  to  you,' 

*'Froni  the  Cayuses  Mr.  Parker  went  to  the  JSTez  l\n 
ees,  about  125  miles  distant,  on  the  lands  of  the  Old  Bifa 
ton,  on  a  small  creek  which  empties  into  the  Clcarwal| 
seven  or  eight  miles  from  the  actual  mission.  And  thcs 
ho  made  the  same  promises  to  the  Indians  as  at  Waiii 
pu.  '  Next  spring  there  Avill  come  a  missionary  to  estiu 
lish  himself  here  and  take  a  piece  of  land;  but  ho  \\\ 
not  take  it  for  nothing;  you  shall  be  paid  every  yea^ 
this  is  the  American  fashion.' 

"In  the  following  year,  1836,  Dr.  Whitman  arrivj 
among  the  Cayuses,  and  began  to  build.  The  Indiai 
did  not  stop  him,  as  they  expected  to  bo  paid,  as  tlit 
said. 

In  the  summer  of  the  next  year,  1837,  Splittod  l'|(jy£i 
ivsked  him  where  the  goods  which  ho  had  ])romised  I'lrces 
were  ;  whether  he  would  pay  him  or  w^helher  he  wanl|iQf)( 
to  steal  his  lands.  He  told  him  if  he  did  not  want  to  p^  rpj: 
him,  he  had  better  go  olf  immediately,  because  he  did  i^y  ^ 
want  to  give  his  land.s  for  nothing.  This  has  boon  tiaj^g, 
me  very  often  by  the  Indians  at  that  time.  ^j^  j 

"In  the  winter  of  the  ensuing  year,  1838,  as  Splittr^en 
Lip's  wife  was  sick,  ho  went  to  the  Doctor  one  evuni^jg  ^] 
and  told  him  :  'Doctor,  you   have  come   here  to  give 
bad   medicines;  you  come  to  kill  us,  and  you  steal  0| 
lands.     You  had   promised  to  pay    me  every  year,  a 
you  have  been   here  already  two  years  and  have  as 
given  me  nothing.     You  had  better  go  away ;  ifmywj 
dies;  you  shall  die  also.'     I  happened   to  be  present 
the  house  when  he  spoke  so,  and  I  heard  him. 

"  I  very  often  heard  the  Indians  sj^eaking  of  new  '1  tak 
iicultios  relative  to  the  payment  for  their  lands,  arisi|ak 
from  year  to  year.  They  constantly  told  the  Doctorjiyrej. 
pay  them  or  else  go  away ;  and  the  Doctor  always  jmg  tJ 
sisted  in  remaining  there  without  paying  them,  sayiftf  Jsj 
that  the  Indians  were  talking  lightly,  and  that  tl§l  of 
would  do  him  no  harm.  Ho  let  them  have  ploughs,  lildin 
those  only  who  bad  good  horses  to  give  bim.  as  tll§,  I  ( 
Haid.  ^  '  t|d; 

3 


CO 

nd 


3U 


W( 


th 


"-"^y-f-'iiv  -h'.'t 


^MP- 


TlIE  WHITMAN  MASSACRE, 


25 


iO  goods  will  n 
larics  will  brii 
to  cultivate  t 
cm  to  you," 


jsion.     And  the 
iins  as  at  Waili 
ssionavy  to  est 
laud  ;  but  lie  w 
paid  every  yea 

kVhitman   arrivs 


Tho  Indians  often  complained  that  the  Doctoi'  and 

s  wife  were  very  severe  and  hard  to  them,  and  often 

treated  them,  which  occasioned  frequent  quarrels  be- 

"  Aj      p  j®^"  them  and  the  Doctor. 

t  to  the  -N  ez  i  iiu  q^q   jr^y  i\^q  Doctor  had  a  great  quarrel  with  the 

Is  of  the  Old  AjiiJians,  on   account  of  some   of  their  horses  that  had 

o  the  Clcurwalfjj^r^gej  i,ij^  grain,  and  was  very  ill   treated   by  them. 

ey  insulted  him,  covered  him  with  mud,  plucked  out 

beard,  pulled  his  cars,  tried  to  throw  his  house  down, 

pped  a  gun  at  him  twice,  and  attempted  to  strike  him 

th  an  axe,  which  he  avoided  by  turning  his  iicad  aside, 

A  short  time  afterwards  he  started  for  the  United 

t«s,  telling  the  Indians  that  he  was  going  to  see  the 

at  chief  of  the  Americans,  and  that  when  he  would 

id.     The   I"du\|^m,Q^  l^o    would    britig  with  himself  many  people  to 

be   paid,  as  t'Hiiistise  them;  and  the  Indians  had    been  looking  to  his 

)turn  with  great  anxiety  and  fear. 
837,  Splitted    I  i-^Xr.  Spalding  established  his  mission  among  the  Nez 
had  promised  li||i.ccs  in  the  same  year  (1836)  as  Dr.  Whitman    did 
,'helher  he  wantg|ong  the  Cayuses. 

id  not  want  to  y  t^  'pjjg   foUowiug  year,  1837,  he   decided   to  send  Mr. 

because  he  did  ifr^y  ^o  the  United  States  with  a  band  of  horses  to  ex- 

hiis  has  been  tt»nge   them   lor  cattle.     Three   Indian    chiefs   started 

ime.  ^        ilh  Mr.  Gray,  viz:Ellis,  the  Blue  Cloak  and  the  Hat. 

,  1838,  as  Si)littrj(ion  at  the  rendezvous  their  horses  feet  began  to  fail. 

jetor  one  evuni^ia  then   observed  to  his  companions  that  thoy  could 

10   here  to  givcj^  continue  their  journey,  their  hoi'ses  being  unable  to 

ind  you  steal  ci^id   the   trip,  and   that  they  would    die  on  the   road. 

e  every  year,  aieu   he  and  the  Blue  Cloak  returned  back,  while  the 

s  and  have  as  m,  went  on  with  Mr.  Gray,     Ellis  and  Blue  Cloak  ar- 

away;  if  "ly '^^'jfid    in    the    fall    at   the    mission   of  Mr.    Spalding, 

to  be  prcsenti|)  got   very   angTy   when    he   saw   them    back,   and 

rd  him.  p  that  they  deserved  severe  punishment.     He  could 

aking  of  ne\v  il  take  Ellis,  v/ho  had  too  strong  a  party;  but  the  Blue 

heir  lands,  arisij|ak,  having    come   one   evening   with   the  others  to 

old  the  Doctoi'lly'^er,  Mr.  Spaldinp;  saw  him,  and  commanded  the  In- 

)octor  always  pfts  to  take  him  ;  and  as  no  one  would  move,  the  young 

ing  them,  sayiftf  Xcz  Perce,  or  Tohwitakis,  arose  with  anger,  took 

y,  and   that   tl|il  of  the  Indian  and  tied  him  up,  and  then  said  to  Mr. 

have  ploughs,  'ilding  :  'Now  whip  him.'  Mr.  Spalding  answered  him  : 

give  him.  as   tl%,  I  do  not  whip ;  I  stand  in  the  place  of  God,  I  com- 

d;  God  does  not  whip,  he  commands,'     '  You  are  a 

3 


II 


-  r-i  I 


'i  1 


( 


26 


THE  WHITMAN  MASSACRE. 


liar/  said  tho  Indian  chief,  '  look  at  your  imago,  (poi 
ing  to  an  image  banging  on  the  wall,  which  Mr.  Spald 


painted  two  men  in  it  and  God  behind  them  with  a  b 
die  of  rods  to  whip  them.  Whip  him,  or  if  not  wo  ^ 
put  you  in  his  place  and  whip  you.'  Mr.  Spalding  ob 
ed,  whipped  tho  Indian,  and  received  from  him  the  ho 
that  he  had  exacted. 

Tho  third  chief,  who  had  followed  Mr.  Gray  on 
journey  .to  the  States,  was  killed  on  tho  waj-by  the  Si 
or  Pawnees.  When  Mr.  Gray  returned,  in  the  ensu 
year,  1838,  Ellis,  seeing  that  he  was  alono,  and  learn! 
that  his  companion  had  been  killed,  went  to  Mr.  Sp 
ing,  and  said  to  him:  'Hear  me;  the  Hat,  who  ace 
panied  Mr.  Gray,  has  been  killed;  if  we  had  gone  wj 
him  wo  should  have  boon  killed  too;  and  because 
returned  back,  refusing  to  follow  him,  you  wished  u 
bo  flogged  ;  you  then  intended  that  we  should  be  kil  3'gji 
also,'  Tho  Indians  then  met  together  and  kept  all  "^  } 
whites  who  lived  at  tho  station  blockaded  in  their  ho  ^/'^ 
for  more  than  a  month.  I  was  then  sent  three  times  ^'^^3 
Mr.  Pombrun  to  the  Noz  Perces,  to  induce  them  to  !  '^" 
tho  missionaries  and  their  people  at  liberty,  obsorviui  ^'^"''' 
them  that  it  was  not  the  fault  of  Mr.  GrajMf  the  Inc  .'^^'^ 
chief  had  been  killed ;  and  it  was  at  my  third  trip  c  "» 
that  I  could  induce  them  to  accept  tobacco  in  sign 
peace,  and  to  retire.  f  '''^ 

"  About  tho  year  1839,  in  tho  fall,  Mr.  Smith,  beltf^,  J'- 
ing  to  the  same  society  as  Dr.  Whitman  and  Mr.  8] 
ding,  asked  Ellis  permission  to  build  upon  his  lands' 
the  purpose  of  teaching  the  Indians  as  tho  other 
sionaries  were  doing,  and  of  keeping  a  school, 
allowed  him  to  build,  but  forbade  him  to  cultivate'^ '^'  ^ 
land,  and  warned  him  that  if  ho  did  the  piece  of  gJ'olfii^^-? 
which  he  would  till  should  serye  to  bury  him  in.     In 
following  spring,  however,  Mr.  Smith  prepared  his  j: 
to  till  the  ground  ;  and  Ellis,  soing  him  read}''  to  b 
went  to  him  and   said  to  him:  'Do  you  not  reco 
what  I  told  jou  ?     I  do  not  wish  you  to  cultivate 
land.'     Mr.  Smith,  however,  persisted  in  his  deterr 
tion  ;  but  as  he  was  beginning  to  plow,  tho  Indians 
hold  of  him  and  said  to  him:  '  Do  you  not  know  ^1 


UK 
■t  tl 
J 

ans, 
to  ( 

\\'0 

Wli 

tnia 

ins, 

I  h 

litu 
.  i'o 


""wj  ,t, 


THE  WHITMAN  MASSACRE. 


21 


ur  imago 
licb  Mr.  Spald 


c  (X)o\T  ^°^"  ^'^^^^  ^  *^"'  ^^''^^  ^'*^^^  would  bo  dii^ging  a  holo  in 
.  ,.. „  «,!ai<i;li<-'li  you  should  be  buried?'  Mr.  Smith  then  did  not 
V  s^  vou  hj''''^^  ^^^y  lo^^gcr,  but  said  to  them  :  '  Let  mo  go,  I  wul 
tl  ^"  witb  a  bl^®  ^^'^  place;'  and  he  started  off  immediately, 
tnem  ■  ^  circumstance  has  been  related  to  mo  by  the  Indians, 

or  II  not  wo  m.  r,      ^  at     o    •  i  w     .    i-i     ^  iir  n  ' 

r     a     \A\r^r^  aV>|i  soon  after  1  saw  Mr.  Smith  myselt,  at   Fort  AValla 
Lr.  Spaluing  ODf ,,      ,  ,  .  i     i-^     ,    -^r 

\-  .  4i.o  i,n*lhM  he  was  on  his   way  dowu  to   Fort   Vancouver, 
orabim  tno  nor      ',  i      i     i    f      'ii      c-      i    •  i     r  i      i      v 

"ore   ho   embarked    for   the    Sandwich    Islands,   trom 


j.'l    a/t,,  a.^J'idly,  but  that  it  was  but  reasonable  on  his  ])art,  as 
ent  to  Mr.  fepil,      'i    ■  •       ^i  •     •         •  ,  i        ^     .      i        j 

\t\      I  ^  onr.Jhout    him  those    missionaries   could    not   stand,  and 
Hat,  wno  accti  ,  ,  ,         .         i  'h    i  i  • 

T     1    (\   rone  \m      ^'^^'^  been  killed  long  since. 
we    la    fe  gTwo  Catholic  missionaries  passed  by  Walla  AYalla  in 

•  and  because  g^,  ,    .  -,        i    ^     n     :^  t-  r 

T  'shed  unr'  °"  their  wa^'  Irom  Canada  to  i^ort  v  ancouver.     In 

'  ^^^^  \  J  u^  iriiiyoars  183'J  and  1840,  one  of  them.  Father  JJemers, 

o  should  bo  kUl''    .     ii-  i,      \\-  n    ^  i      .    4-  i  l 

11    .^oiifo  to  U  alia    Walla  for  a  short  tunc  each   year,  and 

n*  and  koptallf    ,  ^      ^      i     i-  i  •  i  ,         ,     r- 

11'  tV  oir  hd'^  instructions  to  the  Indians,  whicli  a  great  ])art  oi 
idea  in  .■  „„JCayuses  came  to  hear.  Some  time  after,  Dr.  Whit- 
lent  three  timesi      "^i  ^,      o     ir        i    •         i  i     *        • 

1  ii  «.  f«*  ami  Mr.  Spaldiiiijj,  bcuifi;  alarmed  at  seeing;  so  many 
nduco  them  toff         ,  '  .       ,f       ,   *=  i,         ,,        '^^     ,         "^ 

"ans  abandoning  them  to  go  and  hear  the  priest,  camo 

'urt    Walla  Walla,  and   rcpi'oved  Mr.   Pombrun  for 

nij  allowed  the  in'iest  to  teach  the  Indians  in  hia 

I  was  near  the  gate  of  the  Fovt,  when  the  Doctor 

hardly  dismountocl  from   his  horse  before  he  said,  a 

excited,   to  Mr.    Pombrun  :    '  I    thought,  sir,  that 

\   M'  ^1''^^*^  jiromised    me    that  you  would   not  allow    that 

nan  anvl  ^^^- J-|;t  ^l,j3   liberty  of  speaking  to   the  Indians  in  your 

upon  "i^^'j'^^^^yl.     If  that  m"an  has  the  lilierty  of  coming  among  the 

as  tno  iuns,  we  shall  have  to  abandon  thcin  ;  we  shall  be  iin- 

S   p"  .  ■  .  i  to  do  anything  more  among  them.' 

m  to  cu       '   Qjlfwo  years  ago,  1S4G,  a  Cayuse  came  to  my  house,  in 

,he  piece  01  g    IWHlamette  settlement,  and  stopped   with   me  over 

jiry  hnnin.^_iKJ  ^.^^^j^^      During  that   time   he  often  spoke   of  Dr. 

prepaio         uJtnian,  complaining  that  he  possessed  the  lands  of  tho 

im  rea  j       „^lins,  on  which  ho  was  raisinjr  a  ij-reat  deal  of  wheat, 

■vnn    not   rCCOB  f?        o  > 

J^         ,  .     I  ^ti'li  ho  was  selling  to   the  Americans   without  giving 

u  to  cu    1         J  .i,,y^[,j„^. .  i^imt  [j(3  i,j^(j  .^  n^ill  upon  their  lands  and 

in  his  dotornf ,    s  ,       "^       i  •       r  •    i  •       ^  i    •       i      4        i  • 

IT    V        I  had  to    pa}'    bun    for   grinding  their  wheat — a  big 

,v,  the  inuians  1     ^,^^.  ^^^^^.^^     ^^^^^^     H^  g.^i^l  ^\      ^^U  ^^j^^  ^^  ^^ 

u  uot  know  y  -^  -^  ' 


borty,  observing 
Gray  if  the  In(' 
my  third  trip 
obacco  in  signj 


iMr.  Smith,  bole 


t'-  «:;i 


11 


'■: 


I 


; 


11 


'  :    t 


28  THE  WHITMAN  MASSACRE. 

but  lio  would  not  listen  to  them;  that  they  had  b 
much  enlightened  by  the  Americans;  before  the}' had 
wit,  but  the  Americans  had  given  them  some;  the}' 
told  them  that  the  American  missionaries  were  steal 
their  lands;  that  they  were  receiving  great  benefit  fr 
them,  and  that  they  were  living  among  them  for 
purpose  of  enriching  themselves."  i 

(Signed)  JOHN  TOUPi: 

St.  Louis  of  AVillamette,  Sept.  2^,  1848. 


MR.  THOMAS    m'kAy's    STATEMENT   IN  1848. 

'•  1  was  at'  Fort  Walla  Walla  last  ftill,  when  the  Cai 


t 

ic 
i  1 
ai 
•ec 
re; 

t. ; 


M 
If 


■  ive 
chiefs,  at  the  request  of  the  Bishop  of  Walla  Walla,   j^^^, 

there  to  decide  whether  they  would  give  him  a  piec  ^^ '^ 

land  for  a  mission. 

During  the  meeting,  Tumsakay  said  that  Dr.  Whit 
was  a  bad  man  ;  that  he  robbed  and  poisoned  tl 
The  Bishop  replied  to  him  that  •  his  thoughts  were 
the  Doctor  did  not  poison  them,  nor  rob  them  ;  ho 
to  banish  those  thoughts  from  his  mind.  You  do 
know  the  Doctor,'  he  added,  '  he  is  not  a  bad  man.' 

"  One  of  the  chiefs  told  the  Bishop  that  they  w 
send  the  doctor  otf  very  soon  ;  they  would  give  hiiilj', 
house   if    he    wislied.     The    Bishop    answered    tha: 
did  not  wish  them  to  send  the  Doctor  awa}',   ana 
there  was  room  enough  for  two  missions. 

"  The  Doctor  often  told  me  that  for  a  couple  of  y 
ho  had  ceased  to  teach  the  Indians  because  they  wf  '/ 
not  listen  to  him.  lie  told  me  repeatedly,  during|  p 
two  last  years  especially,  that  ho  wislied  to  leave; 
he  knew  the  Indians  were  ill-disposed  towards  him. 
it  was  dangerous  for  him  to  stay  tliere;  but  th: 
wished  all  the  chiefs  to  tell  him  to  go  away,  in  ordi 
excuse  himself  to  the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions 
fall,  during  my  stay  at  Fort  Walla  Walla,  long  befor 
meeting  of  the  chiefs,  called  by  the  Bishop,  the  D<  'i^^' 
asked  me  to  go  and  pass  the  winter  with  him,  s.i 
that  he  was  afraid  of  the  Lidians.  I  told  him  I  (  c  h 
not,  on  account  of  niy  business,  which  called  me  hfb 


.ESJ 


sr 


I 


E. 

^t  tUcy  had  b| 
bcfoi-cthey  litv<' 
n  some;  they 
irics  were  steal' 
great  benefit  fil 
long  them  for 

OHN  TOTJPi: 

,  1848. 


THE  WHITMAN  MASSACRE. 


29 


that  I  would  cxcliango  my  place  for  his  if  ho 
shed.  Then  ho  replied  lie  would  see  my  place.  Ho 
11  mo  also  several  times  last  fall  that  he  would  leave 

ninly  in  the  spring  for  the  Dalles.  I  am  aware, 
reover,  that  the  Cayuses  have  a  great  many  times 
;reated  Dr.  Whitman." 

(Signed,)  Thomas  McKay. 

It.  Louis  of  Willamette,  Sept.  11,  1848. 


iNT   IN 


1848. 


Mr.  John  Baptist  Gervajs'  Statement  in  1848. 

I  spent  last  fall  and  last  winter  among  the  Nez  Per- 
I  arrived  there  at  the  beginning  of  October.     But 


ill,  when  the  Cam ^,g  known   the  Nez  Perces  for  over  twenty  years, 

it'  Walla  Walla,  i      t---  -•-  ..  -  i-u:.  ,^  ...-.: 1  . ,^    *^    ..,' 

ffivc  him  a  piecl 


id  that  Dr.  Whiti 
md    poisoned  tlj 


ng  been  in  the  habit  of  trading  and  traveling  Avith 
n  almost  every  year;  and  it  was  at  their  request 
I  had  gone  to  settle  in  their  country.  For  many 
•s  I  had  heard  the  Nez  Perces  very  often  speaking 
[y   of  Mv.  Spalding.     It  appeared  to  me  that   the 


thoughts  were  l^gp^.  pj^^.^  of  those  Indians  disliked  and  hated  him 
'  rob  them  ;  '**-' lording  to  their  reports,  they  were  very  often  quarrel 
mind.      ^  o^^ '^'^  iwith  him  ;  they  complained  that  Mr.   Spalding  waj 


lot  a  bad  man. 
op  that  they  av 
would  give  hiifj 
answered  tha! 
■tor  away,  ana 
Islons.  I 

r  a  couple  of  y 
Dccausc   they  av 
leatedly,  during 
ished  to  leave ; 
[a  towards  him, 
tliere;  but  thti 
:o  away    in  ord« 
sign  Missions. 
V^alla.  long  befoi 
Bishop,  the  D 
^er  with  him,  sn 
1  told  him  I  (I 
ch  called  me  h 


as 
uick  tempered.     He  fought  with  them  twice,  and 

to  fire  at  them  once.  The  Indians  ill-treated  and 
ted  him  in  a  great  many  ways.  They  threw  down 
lill,  pretending  it  was  theirs. 

Ir.  Spalding  told  me  himself  last  fall  that  for  three 
)ur  years  back  he  had  ceased  entirely  to  teach  tho 
ms,  because  they  refused  to  hear  Ir'm." 
(Signed,)  John  Baptist  Gervais. 

Paul  of  Willamette,  Oct.  15,  1848. 


essrs.  John  Young's  and  Augustin  Eaymond's 
vStatement  in  1848. 

spent  the  winter  of  1846  in  Dr.  Whitman's  em- 
inent. I  generally  worked  at  the  saw-mill.  During 
jime  I  was  there,  I  observed  that  Dr.  Whitman  was 
e  habit  of  poisoning  the  wolves.     I  did  not  see  him 

he   poison   in   the   baits   for  the  wolves;  but  two 


30 


THE  WHITMAN   MASSACRE, 


*r 


yonn^  men  of  the   house,  by  his  orclor,  were  poi'soiiiwivo] 
jiieces  of  moat,  and  disti'ibutiiiijj  thoin  in  the  placi's  wlui 
the  wolves  A.ei'o    in    the    hiihiL    of  coniini^,    at    a    shoi 
distance  around  the  establishment  of  the  JJoctor. 


St 


rf?' 
D) 


"  The  Doctor  gave  mo  once  some  arsenic  to  poison  til  )f  ] 
wolves  that  ■were  around  tbo  saw-mill.  By  his  order  oni 
poisoned  some  jiieces  of  meat  which  I  fixed  at  the  end  |  w 
bhort  sticks  at  about  a  (piavter  of  a  mile  from  the  s:r 
mill.  Some  Indians  who  happened  to  pass  tliero.  to 
the  meat  and  cat  it;  three  of  them  were  very  sick  u 
wei\'  near  dyint;'.  After  they  g-ot  better,  the  old  ch; 
Tilaukaikt,  with  a  certain  number  of  others,  came  to: 
at  the  saw-mill,  and  told  me,  (pointing  to  those  who  li 
eaten  tbe  poisoned  meat,)  that  they  had  been  very  sic 
that  if  tbey  had  died,  their  bearts  would  have  been  vi 
bad,  and  they  would  have  killed  me  ;  but  as  they  did 
die,  their  bearts  were  consoled,  and  thcv  would  not  h 
me.  Some  days  afterwards,  the  Doctor  told  me,  lau^  j/ 
ing,  that  they  would  bave  certainly  died,  if  tbey  liad 
drunk  a  great  quantity  of  wai-m  water,  to  excite  v(«  ^^ 
iting.  '  I  bad  told  tbem  very  often,'  said  be,  '  not  to  ialif 
of  tliat  meat  which  wo  distributed  for  the  wolves,  tlui*]  q, 
would  kill  tbem  :  tbey  will  take  care  now,  I  sui:)pose.'Jj 

"  An  American,  wbo  was  also  in  tbo   service   of  Sjj 
Whitman,  worked  WMth   me  at  tbe  saw-mill.     He  3  ,    , 
from  me  a  part  of  tbe  poison   which   the  Doctor  *''^'^' 
given  me,  and  with  it  poisoned  some  other  meat  for 
purpose  of  killing  tigers,  as  be  said. 

"  About  eight  years  ago,  tbo  first  year  I  came  intoio  c 
country,  I  stopped  for  about  ten  daj's  with  Mr.  A.  I'Ju  rp 
mond,  the  companion  of  my  journey,  at  Dr.  Wbitmti 
wiio  bappened  to  hare  then  a  quanity  of  melons  in 
garden.  Mr.  Gray,  who  was  tben  living  with 
Doctor,  offered  lis  as  many  melons  to  cat  as  we  likl 
but  be  warned  us  at  tbe  same  time  not  to  eat  them  iiii 
criminatelj'-,  as  some  of  tbem  Averc  poisoned.  '  Tbe 
dians,'  said  be, '  are  continually  stealing  our  melons 
stop  tbem,  we  have  put  a  little  poison  on  tbo  bigger  o 
in  order  that  tbo  Indians  wbo  will  eat  them  might  l 
litUo  sick :  wo  did  not  put  on  enough  of  it  to  kill  tl 
but  only  enougb  to  make  tbem  a  little   sick.'     Anil^^j'V 


ere 
on 


clu 
her 
lief, 
nsih 

an 

uce 

er 

Mil 

da\ 


THE    WHITMAN    MASSACRE. 


31 


wt'1'0  v)()isoniMvcnt  and  soloctod  liimsolf  some  luolons  for  us  lo  eat." 
the  places  whil  (Si^nied,)  John  Younu. 

lUiT,   at   a   sliil  St.  Paul  of  Willamette,  September  12,  1S48. 

e  Doctor.  l   rj<\^\n  jh  to  certify  that  the  ]>art  of  the  above  statement 

>nif'  to  poison  t!«)f  Mr.  John  Young  reJativi'  to  the  ])uttinii;  of  ])oison  on 
By  his  order  lonio  melons  at  Dr.  Whitmj*n's  establishment  is  correct, 
ixed  at  the  endi  was  with  Mr.  Young  at  that  time;  I  heard  what  Mr. 
Ic  from  the  s;»*ray  told  him  :    his  words  were  directed  to  both  of  ns, 

pass  there.  to4nd  I  have  eaten  of  the  melons  which  Mr.  Gray  gave  us 
re  very  sick  ajt  that  time. 

,cr    tho  old  cliil  (Signed)  Auoustine  Haymond. 

thers,  came  toi.j  St.  Paul  of  Willamette,  Sept.  12,  1848. 
to  those  who  ill 
d  been  very  sic| 
Id  have  been  v(i 

)ut  as  they  didi#xfmcfs/rom  a  Letter  wrUten  on  tlieAth  o^  ApriL  1845,  hij 
cy  Avould  not  h^j  J)/-.  Elijah  White,  Suh-Tiidliui  Agent,  irest  of  the  Rocky 
)r  told  mc,  lau||  Mountains^  to  the  Indian  Department  at  Washington. 
)d,  if  they  had 
sr,  to  excite  v 
aid  he, '  not  to 

the  wolves,  th 
10 w,  I  suppose 

ho   service   of 

Isaw-mill.     He 

1   the  Doctor 

ther  meat  for 


After  speaking  of  some  difficulties  that  occurred   iii 
alifornia  between  the  Cayuses  and  the  Walla  Wallas 
one  part,  and  the  Spaniards  and  Americans  on  the 
ler,  on  account  of  some  stolen  horses  that  the  Cayuses 
id   Walla   Wallas  had  taken  from  hostile  Indians  by 
;-hting  them,  Mr.  "White  passes  on  to  relate  a  murder 
ere  committed  coolly  by  an  American  the  fall  previous, 
on  the  person  of  Elijah,  the  son  of  the  Yellow^  Serpent, 
ar  I  came  intolc  chief  of  the  Walla  Wallas,  in  the  following  way  : 
^vith  Mr.^  A.  1>|<>  The  Indians  had  gone  to  the  fort  of  Captain  Sutter 
church,  and  after  service,  Elijah  was  invited  into  an- 
ler   apartment,  taking   with    him  his  uncle,  (Young 
ief,  or  Tawatowe,  of  tho  Umatilla  river,)  a  brave  and 
isible  chief,  of  the  age  of  five  and  forty;  while  there, 
an   unarmed  and   defenceless   condition,  thoy   com- 
nced  menancing  him  for  things  alleged  against  the 
er  Indians  of  tliis  upper  counlry,  in   which  none  of 
mi  had  any  particijiation.  called  them  indiscriminately 
gs,  thieves,  \'C.     This  American  then   observed,  'yes- 
•day  you  were  going  to  kill  me,  now  you  must  die,* 
d  drawing  a  pistol — Elijah,  who  had  been  five  or  six 


at  Dr.  Whitmaj 
of  melons  in 
living    with 
cat  as  we  likl 
to  eat  them  in| 
>isoned.     '  The 
Ing  our  melons 
Ion  the  bigger  o 
them  might  l 
lot  it  to  kill  tl 
:lo   sick.'     An( 


1':^ 


',1 


I 
I 


dv\   I 


I 


i    I 


32 


TITE  U'lIITNfA.V   MASSACKE. 


r 
() 

!0in 


Q 


yoars  at  tlio  Methodist  mission,  and  had  leaniod  to  rca^ff 
■write,  and  spoak  Eni;-lisli  i-osjx'clably,  said.  (lolil)enUt.'l\f 
'lot  mo  pray  a  littk-  Hrst,'  and  kncolint^  down,  at  one 
coninienccd,  ajid,  wlu-n   iuvokiiis.^  the  divino  mercy,  Aviii'*^' 
shot  through  the  hea.it  or  vitals,  dead  upon  the  spot,      w^ 

•'Taking  tor  truth  an  Fudian   report,  thiw  horrible  nl^^ 
fair  creates  eonsideralde  excitement,  and  there  is  sonifit 
danger  of  its  disturbing  the  friendly  relati(Mi  that  hit 
erto  existed  between   us  hero  and  all  those  formidal* 
tribes  in  the  region  of  Walla  Walla  and  Snake  river. 

"  Lcaring  from    Dr.  Whitman,  who  resides   in    the 
midst,  how  much  they  were  all  excited  l)y  reason  of  tl 
treacherous  and  violent  death  of  this  educated  and  a(|l 
complishcd  young  chief,  and,  perhaps,  more  ospcciall 
by  the  loss  they  had  sustained,  and  then,  after  sutferiii 
so  many  hardsliips  and  encountering  so  many  danger 
losing  the  whole,  I  a})prehended  there  might  bo   muci 
difficulty  in  adjusting  it,  particularly  as  they  lay  muq 
stress  upon  the  restless,  disaffected  scamps,  late  fro 
Willamette  to   California,  loading   them    with   (he  vi 
epithets  of  dogs,  thieves,  &c.,  from  which  thoy  believ 
or  affected  to  believe,  that  the  slanderous  reports  of  oii"-' 
citizens  caused  all  their  loss  and  disastei-s,  and  therefoiL''^ 
held  us  responsible.     lie,  Ellis,  the  Noz  Perce  chief,  .#  « 
surcd  me  that  the  Cayuses,  Walla  Wallas.  Nez  Percij|i" 
Spokaus,  Ponderoys,  and.  Snakes  wero  all  on  terms  i^' 
amity,  and  that  a  portion  of  the  aggrieved  party  wel"'! 
for  raising  a  party  of  about  two  thousand  warriors  |"it 
those  formidable  tnbes,  and  march  to  California  at  oncj't 
and   nobly   revenge  themselves   on  the  inhabitants   iP'"' 
capture  and  plunder,  enrich  themselves  upon  the  spoilf'  ^' 
whilst  others  not  indisposed  to  the  enterprise,  wishi^l 
first  to  learn  how  it  would  be  regarded  here,  and  wdiet|'"t 
er  we  would  remain  neutral  in  the  affair.     A  third  parfT 
were  for  holding  us  responsible,  as  Elijah  was  killed  i"- 
an  American,  and  the  Americans  incensed  the  Spaniarifoii 

"  Sir,  how  this  affair  will  end  is  difficult  to  conjectuif  «J 
the  general  impression  is  that  it  will  lead  to  the  m(|  tli 
disastrous  consequences  to  the  Californians  themselves,riJ<^i 
to  the  colony  of  the  Willamette  valley.  My  princiJ'^i 
fear  is  that  it  results  in  so  much  jealousy,  prejudice  ai'^h 
disaffection,  as  to  divert  their  minds  from  the  pursuit  l^'^e 
kuov>lodge,  agriculture,  and   the  moans  of  civilizatiQ 


TllK  NVlllTMAN  MASSACRE. 


33 


I  I  ♦^  ,.o.,,b1ikU  Ihcv  liiivc  boon  lor  such  u  loii-'lh  of  time  .so  huia- 

lud.  (lohitoi'ivioiw  .        '^i?    1  •    1      ^1  •,!    ,1  1 

'^  ^^  "  SliouM  this  ho  tlio  cuso   with  tlioso  nuinorous,  bravo, 

d  forinidublo  tribos,  iho  rosull  to  thoiu  and  to  us  woidd 

,  indood.  most  oahiinitous.     To  prevent  Huoh   a  rosulL 


it  (b)\vn,  at  oiu 
vine  nn'i-oy,  v>'i 
thi' 


^n"'     Torrible  al^^'^'"^^'-  ♦^^'■"'•K''  KUis.  a  h)iii!;,  cordial,  and  rather  Hym- 
1  'tl  ^ro  is  Konir^'''^"'".^^  letter  to   the  ohiots  of   those  tribes,   assurin«^ 
"i   .•  ^'^   \u..i  Kitllien)  that  I  slnjiild  at  oiioo  write  lo  tJio  Governor  ot'C'al- 
L-lation  that  Intif ,,.  r^.. ..,.-..  c,.,.,. ,  , „*  ,.i.,-.,r  .,... .« 


Mr.  William  Craio's  Statement  in  lS4>s. 


ation  that  nunr^—.     ■•"  .  .    i-  r 

I  A.....^:,i..i,ll'riiia,  to  Captain  Sutter,  and  to  our  threat  chiet,  respoct- 

liose  lorniKiaiMf        /  i        Ati^-.i  •         ^      i-       .      n     V  i 

li     \  .  ..:,.,^,.      fli'"  this  matter.      \\  ith   a  view   to  divert  attention  and 

'•  1       ;„    fiw.a'omote    <iood  feeliny;,  I   invited  all   the   ehiefs   to  ooine 

,    ■       ';,,,,  „f  fil)Wii  in  the  i'all,  before  the  arrival  of  the  emiii;raiits.  m 
bv  reason  oi  iiw  -^y    t\     \\t\  -.^  i  ai     e      i  i-  i 

;'       .  „i  „„,i   ..(Ainiianv  with  Dr.  Whitman  and  Mr.  Spaldiiiu-,  ami  eoii- 
edueated  and  dm    i      .  i  •     ^  .> 

more  cspceiallf  •  ^^''th  me  upon  this  subject, 
^n,  after  Hutteri.il  (Signed. )  Elmaii   W  iiitk. 

so' many  dangerj 
0  might  bo  muc^ 
as  they  lay  muci 

•scamps,  late  fn)i&  .i^     a,  ,        i    .i 

with   the  viJ^^i^*-''^tion  by  lion.  r.  Jl.  Jiurnett — State  whether  you 

■  -h  thcv  bclievtff^'^  acquainted  with  Tom  Hill,  a  Delaware  Indian,  and 

,.,-.,^,?i.f«  nf  n3>on  and  where,  and  what  statements  he  made  to  the 

ous  rcpoits  oi  ow  1      I    ,1       .1      /I  •   /.  1     r. 

U  '•     and  thercfofr'''  i  ereos,  and  whether  tiie  Cayuses  were  miormed  oi 

Perce  chief,  m^  statements^  and  what  impression  he  made  on  the  lu- 

allas    Nez  Percci^"^  • 

■^  all  on  terms  |Auswor — The    first  acquaintance   was  in    the  llocky 
'or^d  iiartv  Avcl'"^"tains  in  the  year  lSo7.  and   then  in   1845,  ■when  he 
siiul  Varriors  1"^^   ^^  ^^^^  -^^"^^  I'erces  country,     i  irequently    heard 
r^'ur^i.MU  nt  oii*tt  he  had  been  telling  unfavorable  Uiles  of  the  Ameri- 
hihabitants   W*^  5   ^^*^>'^^'   tliey  liad  treated  the   Jndians  in  his  country, 
inion  the  spoil*  ^''^^^^  the  first  were   missionaries   that  came    to  him, 
Mitcrnrise    wishS^^    th*^'^    others    came    in   and    settled,  and  then   com- 
1  here  and  whe»"^cd  taking  our  lands,  und  finally  drove  us  off;  and 
A  thirdparfT  "^^'^"  ^^^  ^^^^  same  to  you.     This  1  had  heard  of  Tom 
"i'lh  Avas  killed  i"-     ^"  seeing  him.  I  asked  him  what  he  had  told  the 
sed  the  Spaniarfl^'ii^*^  j  '^  '^^'  '''^'^  t^'^^l  them  so  and  so,  as  I  had  heard, 
cult  to  coniectuif  ^'-^^^  l^^-  1*^^*^  t^^'l  them  how  the  Americans  had  treat- 
lead  to   the  ml  them  in   his   place,  and    they  had  better  not  keep 
ians  themselves,f^^<^^'"r.'  there,  or  it  would  l»ethe  same  thing  with  them; 
ev      Mv  princiii"*  ''^^''i^i'^i'^ted   with   missionaries;  it  is  onlj^  away  of 
[usy  prejudice  al'^'"g'   property;  there  is  nothing  in  religion,  only  to 
Irom  the"  pursuit  f^^*^  money;  3'ou  can  see  that  ;  look  lunv  they  are  sell- 
\n8  of  civilizatir 


84 


TIIK  WHITMAN  MASSAf'RK. 


^8  mission 
0  massacro 
on  day,  a  ^ 
fore  Mr.  & 
ftom  tho  Cay 


ing  evorytliiiii^  *''<^.y  I'Hi-^i.'  in  yoiirown  himls ;  you  cannot  .,  (^ucHtion - 
fjct  aiiytliinn-  from  tlu'ni  without  ))ayinu-  for  it,  not  •'^' Aicrc  took  i), 
niucli  us  a  i>i(.'t*.' of  im-al  w  liun  }-ou  an:  liuiit;;i'y.  Afl<;X.j.  ji.„|,j  ^|,^ 
my  interview  witii  llill.  lie  eaine  once  in  company  witll-iu^^  j^i^j  j,^^^, 
some    Ne/    Perces   to   Dr.   Whitman's;  after    '■^'muinimJjjy^^^.y  j^jnj 

there'  some  twelve  or  fifteen  (hiys.  he  i'i'turne(l  ;   I   unIcc  ^  j\^,)y^yrei. 

liim  how  he  and  the  Doctor  i:;(»t  ah^iiij;;  lie  toM  me  verv 
Avell  ;  that  he  was  a  lieap  heUor  man  than  Spaldini;- ;  h 
had  asked  him  into  his  house  sometimes.     After  that  tli 
l)oetor  tdld   me  Tom    had  done  sctme  mischief  with  tli 
Indians  in  that  place 

Question — Will  you  state  what  is  the  custom  amoii:^,ij.,3j  ],jp^  ^^^^ 
the  Cayuses  when  a  medicine  man  fails  to  cure  ii  pntienXitQ  l\^^^  ^,.yi 
and  the  patient  dies  y  Jat  all  tho  cl 

Answer — Since  1  have  heen  acijiiainted   with  them.  i:|^ij  li'Jye  Cro 
has  alwaN's  been  their  custom  in  such  cases  to  kill  t!i<jf  tho  murdei 
medicine  man  or  woman  ;  and   every  year  since  I  hav.|j|)if5QQJ,^j^  ^|j 
known  tlu-m.  T  have  lieaivl  of  thorn  Iviflinij  su<'li  pi'rson>.S^[it  thoy   we 

(Question — How  long*  have  ytju  been  ac<iuainted  witflow  do  you  1 
the  Cavuses  ? 

Answer — Since  tlie  year  1S40. 

(^Miestion — State  whether  you  ever  heard  any   of  t 
Cavuses  sav  anvthinsi;  about    the  (.'atliolics  establishii 
missions  amon<^'   them,   and    whether  they  disliked  th 
they  should!:' 

Answer. — I  heard  an  Indian,  who  was  li'ft  in   chaiv 
of  the  Young  Chief's  business,  while   the   chief  was  or 
after  butt'alo,  and  which  was  sometim.'  during  the  sui 
mer  of  1S47,  say  that  the  Young  ('hief  told  liim   that 
they,  the  Catholic  iiiissionaries.  should  come  there  belbr 
ho  got  back,  to  tell  them  to  remain,  but  not  to  comineiniiij  the  Docto 
building  until  his  return,  and  he  would  show  themAvlnwes    will    die 
to  build.     It  was,  however,  a  common  report  among  ^ luring,"     Mrs 
Ncz  Perces  that  the  Cavuses  had  asked  the  Catholics  ||d  waut  to  si 
come  among  them  and  to  establish  missions.  «ace  between 

Question. — Did  you  hear  I)r.  AYhitman  say  tvnythiilley  said  how 
dative  to  the  Catholics  establishing  missions  among  tl|p]ed  ofF*  sucl 

Indian  so 
ive  them  up 
le  of  them  Sii 


te  say  ?  Jos. 
"'  aiding  hud 
the  East,  w 
kill  off  tho 
d  sent  them 
ir  more  that 
dicine  had  ( 
ing  on  the  si 
conversatioi 
d  3Ir.  Spald 
!•  why  he  di 


re 

Indians;  if  so,  state  what':' 

Answer. — J)r.  AVhitman  told  nie  that  he  heard  a  t:i( 
of  the  Catholies  establishing  a  mission  on  the  Tucanneji 
about  sixty  miles  off.  and  said   be  would  rather    th||wis.     Oh   nr 
would  be  nearer  at  hand.  ^•-  sound,     Tl 


1 


THE  WHITMAN  MASSACRE. 


85 


At'ln 
y  witli 

c  vor\ 
\)iS, ;  Ii 


•annot  |  (JuoHtion. — State  whore  yen  v.'oro  at  tho  time  the  mnni- 
Hot  s  jiiere  took  ])lace,  and  what  do  you  know  about  a  mesHen- 

}or  I'rom  the  uuirderers  to  the  Nez  PerceH  IndiauH,  and 
'hat  the  ineHKeii^er  said  iu  relerence  to  the  cause  of"  the 
ayuHes  killliif^  JJi".  Whitman. 

I  Answer. — 1  was  living  about  ten  miiesfromMr.  Spa.d- 
fijg's  mission.  Mr.  Camfield  first  brought  tlie  news  of 
Hio  massacre.  On  tho  8th,  after  tho  massacre,  ci^'ng 
luit  (!i  llunday,  a  gr^jat  many  Indians  mot  at  Mr.  Spalding's 
ith  th|i)foro  Mr.  S.  had  returned;  a  messenger  came  there 
0om  tho  Cayuses,  and  tho  Indians,  when  assembled,  re- 
amoni^iii-ed  him  to  state  all  ho  know  about  the  matter,  and  to 
pationiiito  iho  truth  ;  1  was  present;  and  ho  said,  in  substance, 
tpat  all  tho  chiefs  were  concerned,  except  Young  Chief 
hem.  i:|^(J  Five  Crows,  who  know  nothing  of  it;  that  the  cause 
cill  llicll'tho  murder  was  that  Dr.  Whitman  and  Spalding  were 
I  havi**)isouing  the  Indians.  They  asked  him,  are  you  sure 
•*^'>''^'^'>^Sat  they  were  poisoning  tho  Indians?  He  said  yea. 
m1  witHow  do  you  know  it  ?  Jos.  Lewis  said  so.  What  did 
bfc  say  ?  Jos.  Lewis  said  that  Dr.  Whitman  and  Mr. 
aiding  had  been  writing  for  two  years  to  their  friends 
the  East,  whore  Jos.  Lewis  lived,  to  send  them  poison 


of  tllj 
tlishiiit 


kill  off  tho   Cayuses  and  tho  Nez  Forces;  and  they 

v(\  \\y>md  sent  them  some  that  was  not  good,  and  they  wrote 

for  more  that   would   kill  them  off  quick,  and  that  the 

(•haiijiedicine  had  come  this  summer.     Jos.  Lewis  said  ho  was 


le 


!is  <»>^lng  on  the  settee  in  Dr.  Whitman's  room,  and  he  heard 
iiii^conversation    between  Dr.   Whitman,  Mrs.  Whitman, 
that  ttci  Mr.  Spalding,  in  which  Mr.  Spalding  asked  tho  Doc- 
e  bt't'oij.  why  he  did   not  kill  the  Indians  off  faster  ?     "Oh," 
nnu'ii')|id  the  Doctor,  "they  are  dying  fast  enough  ;  tho  young 
n  wh«  ijics   will   die   off  this   winter,   and   tho   old  ones  next 
)ng  Hiring."     Mrs.  Whitman  said  that  our  friends  will  bo  on, 
ollcs  ^d  want  to  settle  in   this  country.     A  talk  then  took 
)|ace  between  Dr.  Whitman  and  Mr.  Spalding,  in  which 
".vlhiiiey  said,  how  easy  we  will  live  when  the  iddians  are  all 
)iig  ilriflled  off;  such  an  Indian  has  so  many  horses,  and  such 
Indian  so  many  spotted  horses,  and  our  boys  will 
ve  them  up,  and  wo  will  give  them  to  our  friends. 
0  of  them  said  that  man  will  hear  us,  alluding  to  Jos. 
wis.     Oh,  no,  said  another,  he  cannot  hear,  he  is  sleep- 
sound.     They  talked  rather  low,  but  Jos.  Lewis  said 


L( 


I 


i\  t:i 
caniK 
er    th 


il 


¥ 


86 


THE  WHITMAN  MASSACRE. 


he  could  hear  all  that  passed.  This  Indian  messenger  st^d  i 
ted  that  Jos.  Lewis  had  made  thisstatement  in  a  council||d  I 
the  Cayuses  on  the  Saturdaj"  night  previous  to  the  muifrii 
-der,  and  that  Jos.  Lewis  said  he  had  heard  this  convepnc 
eation  between  Dr.  Whitman  and  the  others  on  t 
Wednesday  before  the  murder.  Jos.  Lewis,  the  messc 
ger  said,  told  the  Caynses  in  the  council  that  unless  th 
(the  Indians)  killed  Dr.  Whitman  and  Mr.  Spaldi 
quick,  they  would  all  die.  The  messenger  went  on 
eaj''  himself,  that  one  hundred  and  ninety-seven  Indiai 
had  died  since  the  immigration  commenced  passing  tli 
summer.  He  said  that  there  were  six  buried  on  Mondsi 
morning,  and  among  the  rest  his  own  wife;  he  said 
knew  they  were  poisoned. 

Question. — Are  you  acquainted  with  the  fact  that  tl 
small-pox  was  spread  among  the  Blackfeot  Indians  cai 
of  the  Eocky  Mountains  ?  If  so,  state  in  what  year,  ail 
how  far  it  spread,  and  whether  a  knowledge  of  this  fa 
is  not  familiar  \vith  the  Cayuses  and  Nez  Perces.  i 

Answer. — In  the  year  1837,  the  small-pox  was  spro^ 
■among   the  Blackfeet   Indians    by  one   Bcckwith,  w 
brought  the  matter  for  that  purpose.     Beckwith   took 
himself,  and  a  clerk  at  one  of  the   trading  posts,  F 
Muriah,  on  one  branch  o!  the  Missouri  river,  helped 
spread  it  among  the  Blackfeet  Indians  for  the  pnrp 
of  killing  them  off.     A  knowledge  of  this  fact  is  cjnim 
among  the  Nez  Perces,  and,  I  think,  among  tli o  Cayu.si^)i 

(Signed,)  William  Craig.Ejio 

July  11,  1848.  ^sti 

'io  t 


in 
ir 
ist 
I. 
ir 
le 
e 
I. 

V  t 

'.  G 
u 

ich 
N 

liis 
go 
he 

ce. 

m: 

lia, 
a 


CHAPTx:i„  III. 


( 


REVIEW    OF    THE   EVIDENCE     ADDUCED 

CHAPTER. 


IN    THE     FOREGOlil  W 

OJild 

Every  impartial  and  unprejudiced  person,  after  rc"^"' 
ing  attentively  the  foregoing  documents,   will  come 
the  conclusion  that  the  causes,  both  remote  and   inn 
diate  of  the  whole  evil,  must  have  bqcn  the  following  i] 

I.  The  promise  made  by  Mr.   Parker  to  the  Cayu 


t  t 
at 

0(1, 

nv 


i 


THE  WHITMAN   MASSACRE. 


n  messenger  sti 
nt  in  a  council 
ious  to  the  mu 
3ard  til  is  convei^ 
5   others  on   t| 
svvis,  the  messci 
that  unices  thi 
id   Mr.  Spaldii 
iggr  went  on 
Ly-seven   Indiai 
Lced  passing  till 
uried  on  Mondj 
vife ;    he  said  1 

the  tact  that  t 
foot  Indians  c 
n  what  year,  a 
lodge  of  this  fii 
3Z  Forces. 
1-pox  was  spro 
3   Bock  with,  w 
Beckwith  took 
[iding  posts,  F 
river,  helped 
for   the  pnrp 
8  fact  is  cjmm 
ong  tho  Oayurj 
V^iLLiAM  Craig 


N    THE     FOREGOI 

jrson,  after  re 
its,  will  come 
jmote  and  imi 
tho  following 
to  the  Cayii 


Id  the  Ncz  Porcos  of  paying  for  their  lands  cvtry  year, 

d  tho  want  of  fulfillment  of  that  promise. 

ulicnce  camo  '•  the   months  of  doej)  solicitude,    ooca- 

ncd  by  tho  increasing  and  menacing  demands   of  the 

iians  for  pay  for  their  watei'.   their  wood,   their  air, 

'ir  lands,"  of  which  ^fr.   Spiihling  complains  in    his 

istory  of  the  Massacre."     It  was  not   unnatural  that 

Indians  seeing  they  were  refused  tho  price  fixed  for 

ir  lands,   should  repeat   their    demands,   und    finally 

no  iQ  the  threatenings.      White   people    would    not 

•e  done  much  less. 

.1.  The  death  of  tho  Ne/  I'erces'  chief  killed  on  his 
iv  to  the  United  States,  when  ho  was  in  companv  with 
.  Gray,  and  in  his  service. 

The    conclusion    is    evident    from    the    circumstances 

lich  preceded  that  death,  and  from  the  proceedings  of 

I  Ncz  Forces  agninst  .Mr.  Si):iiding,  and  all  tho  [)eoplo 

|his  establishment  on  account  of  it,  and  likewise  from 

general  habit  of  the  Indians  in  such  cases.     Besides, 

die  council  that  the  (^ayuses  held  sometime  after  the 

Bsacre,  to  offer  to  the  government    their  pi'oposals  of 

ice.  Tilankaikl,  was  mentioning  that  death  as  one  of 

lir  grounds  of  complaint  against  the  Americans. 

ill.  The   murder  committed   by  an  American  in  Cali- 

liia,  on    the   ])ci'son   of  I'^lijah,    the   son   of   the   Walhi 

hi  chief,  in  1S44. 

'r.  White's  letter  says  in  relation  to  that  murder: 
ijie  general  impression  is  that  it  will  lead  to  the  most 
iistrous  consequences  to  tho  Californians  themselves, 
|o  tho  colony  of  the  AVillamette  valley."  Mr.  Spald- 
P,  siiys  in  his  "  Ifistory  of  the  Massacre  :"  '•  When 
1^'  tho  Indians,  retnrned  back  from  (^difornia.  two 
;rs  ago,  after  tho  death  of  tho  son  of  tho  Walla  Walla 
'f  several  meetings  were  held  to  consider  whether 
Whitman,  myself,  or  some  other  American  teacher, 
nld  be  killed^is  a  set-off  for  Elijah."  And  Mr.  Mc- 
jlay  assures  me  that  in  the  fall  of  1S44,  tho  Indians,  a 
't  time  after  t!\eir  I'oturn  fVom  California,  met  one 
at  Fort  W^alla  Walla,  seven  hundred  in  number,  all 
led,  iind  d<;clded  to  walk  down  immediately  ujton  the 
'•■i\'  of  the  W^illamctto.  and  that  they  could  be  sto]>ped 
l»y  the  Young  Chief,  who.  by  his  influence  and  en- 


1 

1      % 

1      1 

i       .1 

]         -M 

I  1 

m 


:5< 


n^ 


i 


38 


THE  WHITMAN  MASSACRE. 


treaties,  decided  them  to  abandon  their  undertaking"  aiB^A 
to  go  homo.     And  in  the  spring  of  1S47,  the  VVaihi  VVaip^'"^ 
chief  himself,  Yellow  Serpent,   started  with  a  party 
Walla  Wallas  and  Cayuses  for  the  purpose  of  attacki 
the  Americans  in  California,  whom  they  thought  unsii 
picious,  but  having  found  them  on  their  guard,  and  t 
strong  to  be  attacked  without  danger,  he  took  their  pai 
against  the  Spaniiii-  Is   ofi'ered  his  services  to  tliem,  nij 
fought  in  their  r;;nk^~      On  his  way,  coming  back,  lie  h 
many  of  his  peo,,i-'  x\<i  .i  sickness,  so  that   ho  and  li 
3'oung  men,  when  t  rrived  at  home  in  the  fall,  felt  wor 
disposed  than  ever  towards  the  Americans.     And  Til;: 
kaikt  mentioned  that  murder  also  among  the  grievanc 
that  they  had  against  the  Americans. 

IV.  The  tales  of  Tom  J I  ill  in  accordance  with    w 


ni! 

tr 

III 

c 

fi 

d  ] 


was  going  on  among  the  Indians. 


Ul( 
II  ; 
k'^ 

in< 
ev 
uk 
lie 

V 

le 

n  V 

la 

tcs, 

•e  { 

ges 

'0 : 

)a!' 

or 

[sioi 


That  Indian  had  told  theNez  Perces  and  Cayusestl 
''  the  first  were  missionaries,"  who  came  to  them  ''  (ji 
to  make  property,  that  there  was  nothing   in  religioi' 
Now,  when  the   Protestant  missionaries  arrived  amo 
those  tribes  of   Indians,  they  assured  them   that  tlil 
came  only  to  teach  them  and  ia?  help  them  to  live  bett| 
and  promised  them  a  great  price  for  their  lands, 
soon  after  they  got  their  lain's  sliey  worked  for  tlu 
selves  and  neglected  the   In  iiuij  .  and  even  for  thrct.' 
four  voars  they  had  ceased  ( .uiroly  to  teach  them. 
Mr.  Spalding  said.     They  g?*  '■•  'i  '.,  of  hoi-ses,  sheep  ii 
cattle;  nuide  large    farms,  traded    with  the    emigra4 
their   horses,  cattle    and  grain,  and  were  getting   I'l 
without  dividing  with  the  Indians.     They  refused  oli«"."" 
nately.  from  year  to   year,  to   pay  the  ])rice   they  1^  '. 
promised  for  their  lands,  and  persisted  in  keeping  tlK'i|'^"^'' 
and  they  made  nothing  f'-r  the  Indians  unless  they  w^.    • 
paid  for  it. 

Tom  Hill  had  also  ta  !    that  after  the  missionai 
••others   come,  settle,  b<->;   ;    to    take    their    lands, 
finally  sen'  them  off."     Now — the  year  after  the  arril 
of  (^iosc  TiiNsionaries — Mr.  Spalding  thought  fit  to  M 
M*.  (h'liy  1»»  the  States  for  the  [)urpose  of  bringing  li 
tlenco    f:'.ly    new    families  of    missionaries,  and    lun'^ 
made  knowi,  to  the  Indians.     In  IHHi)  ]\[r.  Smith  wi.><! 
to  cultivate  the  land  in  spite  of  the  Indians,  and  becil 


HI 

II  u- 

nu 

've 
iies!' 

in  ( 


^ 


THE  WHITMAN  MASSACRE. 


30 


ludcrtakin^-  ai| 
the  WalUi  Wul| 
with  a  party 
osc  of  attack ii 
thought  uns 
•  jruard,  and  t 
e  took  thoir  paj 
^cs  to  tlicm,  ail 
linii;  back,  ho  1 
that  ho  and  11 
le  fall,  felt  won 
ans.  And  Til;» 
\if  the  o'l'iovaucl 

hiucc  with    w' 

and  Cayiisestl 
le  to  them  "01 
iin*>'    in  I'cliirio 


loy   stop])ed   liim    lie  went  off.     In  1S42  Dr.  Whitman 

lirtcd  for  the  States,  tellini;-  the  Indians  tluit  ho  wouhl 

[ing  back  witli  hitn  many  people  to  fhastise  them  for 

treating  liini.     I'he  Indians  bad  been   wailing  for  his 

turn  with  anxiety,  fearing  the  execution  of  his  threat. 

came  back,  however,  with  a  few  ])eople  only;  but   in 

following  year  more  came  ;  and  next  3-ear  yet  more, 

jd  more  and  more  for  evoiy  following  year;  so  that 

Indians    could     possibly    su])iK)se   that    the    Doctor 

on  them   as 


t)uld  execute  his  threats  and  take  revenge 

)H  ashe  thonght  himself  strong  enough. 

Besides,    they  knew  the   Willamette  valley  well,  and 

[ing  so  many  Americans  passing  through  their  coun- 

'ver}'  year  to  go  thither,  it  was  not  unnatural  they 

juld    ])ut   this  question  to  themselves:     If  Ihoy    con- 

lue  for  many  years  more  to  come   in  so  great  a  num- 

p.  where  will  they  settle?     There  is  not  room   enough 

the  Willamette  for  so  many  jieoplo.     And  the  answer 

,    .,,.,.|n  Avas  natural : — ThoA^  will  come   here   and  will   take 

"»_.,,   .^ij^^iir  lands,  as     Lom    IIill    sajs    they    iiavo    doi\e    m   the 

(_  S     til  I  .  to)  .  ,c      0  iwl    «i  u   +1  WITT    «i>n    1 1  Ml  II  ri'  1 1I    f  lin    Wi  11  n  iiinf  I  <»     o  iwl    \\- 1 1 1 

I  them   that  Ll.^ 
hem  to  live  bett 
their  lands, 
svorked  for  tlu 

even  for  three 

,0  teach  them. 

hoi-ses,  shoep  a' 


Ics.  and  as  they  are  doing  in  the  Willamette,  and  will 

:e  us  out  of  the  country.     And  then    that  conclusion 

gested  to    them    by   Tom    Hill  found    naturally   its 

•c :  that  the  missionaries  were  among   them   only   to 

pare  the  way  for  other  Americans,  and  that  they  had 

ler  not  keep  Mr.   Sjnilding  nor  any  other  American 

Jsi^marv  amonii'  themselves, 

hoi'ses,  sneep  ii*      „,,  '             7.         ,11           1  \         • 

1+1   .         iin-'i^I'           '  sproa<ling  of  small  pox  liy  Americans  among 

,Ui  t  R-  ^        f7>  yj  p]..^(^,|^f'j^j»^   jji^lj.^ijj^    jj^   corniection  with   the   measles 

Uerc  ge       /^    .jjlnji-  the  Cayuses,   and   the  imiirudent   use  of  poison 
hev  retused  oiiw   •'-,„    .        -' ,        ,   ,  ,•  ,  *         1  »  •  v      • 

\^    J    .        ii  ^,,  uj'r.  \Vhitman  s  estanlislniient,  and  his  protesMon   as  a 
U  iH-ice  .tUey   li  I 


sician. 

he  Cayuses  and  the  Xe/-  Perces.   as   stated   by   ^fr. 

ig.  knew  that  the  small-j)ox   had  been    brought   and 

ad  among  the  HIackfeet   Indians  by  Americans,  and 

iig    a    great    similarity    betwet'ii    the    effects    of  the 

sles  among  themselves  and  of  the  small-i>ox  among 

to  siM  I^la«'k'feet,    the}'    could   be    induced    vei'y    easily    to 

i^-'^v '        ■       i.fi've  that  the  Americans  had   brouii'ht  them   the   same 

le  ot  ^^''"^'V'^    itoss  with  the  intention  of  killing  them  as  they   had 

Ap's\iTth  wisf  ^^■'^''  ^'*''   lilackfeet.     Moreover  Doctor    Wrdtman 

,.  '■  '  ''^    I  K,w..iibi  the  habit  of  using  i)oison  to  kill  wolves.     The  In- 

idian^*,  and  bee  an  &  ^ 


ill  keeping  thi 
|s  unless  they  w 

the  missionai| 
their  hinds,  ij 
ir  after  the  arri 
[houiiht  tit  to  sifi 


f 

1 

1 

ii 

m 

1 

1 
1 

1 

1 

r 

■• 

\ 

1         ''^ 

40 


THE  WHITMAN  MASSACRE. 


ill      I  ! 


i   ^!t 


1 


dians  knew  it ;  and  three  of  tlioni  had  beeii  very 
losino-  their  lives  by  eating-  of  the    meat    that   he 
poisoned.     The    Indians    knew   then    tliat    lie    had 
power    of   poisoning    them    whenever  he    wished ; 
with  Indians,  from   the  power  to   the  act,    there  is 
very  little  distance.  )\ 

It  is  certain  also  that  the  Doctor,  or  those  about  It, 
had  poisoned  melons  for  the  purpose  of  making  tlur 
dians  sick.  The  Indians  knew  it,  and  had  been  long  iii] 
plaining  of  it.  Going  farther  they  took  occasion  1^. 
that  circumstance  for  accusing  the  Doctor  of  ha  " 
poisoned  other  food  that  he  gave  them  to  eat ;  an 
was  a  general  report  among  them  that  very  often 
experienced  vomitings  and  colics  after  eting  the 
tor's  aliments,  and  they  went  so  I'ar  as  to  designaCi 
good  many  among  themselves  who  have  been  I;)]- 
sick  in  this  manner.  The  Doctor  was  also  in  the  l«t 
of  trusting  poison  to  all  j^ersons  in  his  service  iifi 
criminately.  Who  then  could  say  that  he  hadija 
trusted  poison  to  some  person  unworthy  of  his  (ii)i 
dence,  who,  without  his  knowledge  and  against  his  Qe 
might  have  used  it  against  the  Indians":*  g  ( 

And  linally,  Dr.  Whitman  was  a  |)hysiclan,  and  it5;i 
one  knows  the  prejudice  of  the  Indians  against  anyfcl,: 
of  what  they  call  •■  medicine  nien,"  to  whom  they  iiiflo 
the  power  of  killing  or  healing  as  they  choose,  the 
sons  they  attend,  and    whom   the\    are  in   the  hal 
killing  as  murderei-s,  when  their  patient  dies.  on 

VI.     Lack  of  sincerity  and  faithfulness  to  their  I), 
and  j)i^omise.   violence  of  character  and   imprudent 
pressions,  together  with  an  excessive  seeking   for. 
poral  welfare  in  some  of  the  missionaries.  >  \ 

We  luive  seen  that  they  had  promised   to  pay  tlifV 
dians  for  their  lands  and   to  give    them   a  great  i^ 
things  whieh  they  never  gave.  ^ 

Mr.   Sj)alding,  writing  to  the   Bishoj)  of  Walla   t|i( 
some  days  after  the  massacre  of  Wxiilat])U,  said  :    id. 
object    in    writing    ])rin('ipal!y    is    to   give     intbrn< 
through   you  to  the  (,'a}'uses  that  it  is  our  wish  t<i^ 
peace,    that  we  do  not    wish  Americans  to  come 
below  to  avenge  the  wrong ;  we   hope  the  Cayusef.  f 
AinericaJis  will  be  on  friendly  terms,  that  Americailtt 


CRE. 


THE  WHITMAN  MASSACRE, 


41 


ic  Doctor  of   ha 
thom  to  cat;  an 
that   very  often 
after  etin«  the 


lad  been  very  viinore  come  to  this  country,  unless  they  M'ish  it.  As 
meat  that  he  1  \  as  these  men  return.  I  hope,  if  aUvc,  to  send  tliem 
1  that  he  had  he  Governor,  to  prevent  Americans  comini;-  up  to 
or  he  wislied  ;  i  est  the  Cayuscs  for  what  is  done.  .  .  .  The  Ne/ IVr- 
he  act,    there  is   pledged  to  protect  us  from  the  Caynses  if  we   would 

rent  the  Americans  from  coming  up  to  avenge  the 

or  those  about  1  xlers      This  we  have  pledged  to  do,  and  for  this  wo 

;c  of  making  the «  for  the   sake  of  our  lives  at  this    place  and    Mr. 

id  had  been  long  cfker's.     Ev  all  means  keep  quiet,  send  no  war  re- 

■  took  occasion  l|s.  send  no  lung  but  proposals  of  peace.     Tliey  say 

'  have  buried  the  death  of  the  VValhi  Walla  chief's 
killed  in  f  California.  They  wish  us  to  bury  this 
nee."  And  in  the  Oregon  Amcriran  ho  says:  ''The 
iiiL^L  -....f.,  --  Jet  of  the  letter  was  solely  to  gain  time  for  the  II. 
ar  as  to  (lesignafompany  to  reach  Walla  Walla  and  secure  our  de- 
rbo  have  been  tii-ance  before  the  Indians  should  discover  any  move- 
was  also  in  the  lit  on  the  part  of  the  Americans."  And,  as  if  to 
in  his  service  iife  it,  he  had  hardly  escaped  from  the  hands  of  the 
say  that  he  had^ans.  when  on  his  way  going  down  to  the  Willamette, 
nwcn'thy  of  his  (f)mpany  with  the  other  captives  after  their  deliv- 
j  and  against  his  |ec,  passing  at  the  Dalles,  he  tried  all  ho  could  to  in- 
ijiiis?  e  the  troops  that  were  stationed  there  to  go  up  im- 

,  y)hysician,  and  clutely  to  the  Caynses  and  kill  them  all  with  the  ex- 
dians  against  any|on  of  only  live  or  six  whom  he  commended  to  their 
'  to  whom  they  iniency,  as  the  following  letter  partly  proves  : — 
,  they  choose,  the! 

y  are  in  the  halij  "  Oregon  City,  Aug.  18th,  1848. 

latient  dies.  (Jn.  P.  II.  Burnett : 

itulness  to  their  i)ear  »Sir, — In  answer  to  your  polite  note  I  can  only 
}v  and  imprudeni^hat  I  did  not  charge-my  mind  particularly  with 
sive  seeking  for 'J  Mr.  Spalding's  statements,  consequently  cannot 
onaries.  (you  his    precise    language.     I    recollect    distinctly, 

mised   to  pay  tlifver,  that  he  was  not  in  favor  of  killing  all  the  Cay- 
'    them  a  great  i|  for  he  gave  me  names  of  some  four  or  five  that  he 
i'  to    be   friendly,  and  another  whom   I    marked   as 
ishop  of  Walla  fionable;  the  l)alance.  if  I  am  not  very  much  mis- 

Yuilatpu,  sai<l '.    ili.  he  would  have  share  one  fate 

to   give    inforni    "J  am,  Sir,  with  respect,  yours, 
it  isl)ur  wish  t«ii  (Signed)  "J.  Magone." 

erieans   to  come  t 

iiopc  the  Cayusei.  Spalding  intended  then  to  deceive  thv  Indians  with 
ns  that  Americaiftter  that  he  wrote  to  the  Bishop,  and  bad  no  in- 


•■Sf  -^ 


;  IBi! 


42 


THE  WHITMAN   MASSACRE. 


■wr 


I 


Th 


tcntion  of  koo[»in.iJ!;  his  ])r()iniscs  to  thcin.  And  tlio  Ii 
diiins  knew  him  so  well  in  that  respect  thtit  when  tin 
heard  his  letter  reiul  at  the  Catholic  mission,  they  sai. 
without  hesitation  that  Mr.  Spaldino-  was  speakinjr  wc 
because  he  was  in  a  liolc.  Now,  it  is  known  by  ever 
one  that  nothing  is  so  a)»t  to  destroy  the  conlidenco  an 
excite  the  bad  feelin<i;s  ot"  Indians  towards  any  body  ; 
lack  of  sincerity  and  faithfulness. 

As   to    the    violence  of  character  and   imprudent  or 
pressions,    1    heai-d    Di-.    Whitman    say    at    Fort    Wnl 
Walla,  in  the  fall  «  (  1847.  that  he  had  very  much  scoMt 
the  Indians    of  the    Dalles,    who    had    robbed    the  eii 
grants,  and  that  he  had   told   them  :  •'  Since  you  arc 
wicked,  such  robbers,  we  shall  call  for  troop.s  to  chasti>Merfec 

Indian 
V  To 
(ir.  Ci 
secoi 
pi  age 
"Jt 
Ifisto 
•ent} 
thers 


live  re, 
he 
'Vote 
VI 
Iverc 
Ivith 

lu 
poiisi( 
lad  I 
iwful 

)CI'S01 

nter_> 
hat  J 


you 


and    next  fall    we    will   sec    here    five     hundii 


di'agoons  who  will  take  care  of  you."  We  have  sci| 
moreover  in  ^Mr.  Tou])in's  statement  the  ignomini'i 
treatment  to  which  the  Doctor  exj^osed  himself  by  tlij 
hardness  and  violence  of  character,  and  -Mr.  Gervais  to| 
ns  what  the  consequences  were  for  Mr.  Spalding  throuil 
Lis  quickness  of  temper, 

As  for  the  excessive  seeking  for  temporal  welfare,  )I| 
Joel  Palmei'.  then  Indian  Agent,  said  in  my  presence 
Walla  AValla.  during  the  winter  <^f  184S,  that  in  his  0]ii| 
ion  the  application  of  the   missionaries  to  get  excessii 


:ei'y 
nth"  n 


riches  had  been  a  great  obstacle  to  the  prosperity  of  tmfferii 
missions  ;  that  it  absorbed   too  much  of  their  attentiwJi'ds 

10,  tw 

AV 

Here 
ell  wi 


^1 


and  excited   against  them   the  jealousy  of  the   Indiar 
that  his  opinion  was  that  the  government  ought  to  pi 
liibit  them  from  getting  more  than   a  certain  amount 
revenue  as  consiclered  necessary  foi'  their  habitual  sd 
sistence.  M  Jiid 

Such  had  been — upon  the  Indians — the  unfavoi-aB  e.xei 
effect  of  the  facts  and  circumstances  which  I  have  jiBlvant 
given  above  as  the  remote  causes  of  the  massacre,  tllnnd 
a  great  part  of  the  volunteei's  of  1S4S,  and  also  of  iBdfJuH 
population  of  the  Willamette,  came  to  the  general  ciBut  he 
elusion  that  the  missions  were  pi'ejudicial  to  the  Indiwiongi 
made  them  worse,  and  had  better  be  abandoned.  Wwaldin 
they  came  to  this  conclusion,  however,  they  could  spiKins  h; 
of  the  Pi'otestant  missions  only,  liecause  they  had  tIB  view 
no  opportunity  of  knowing  what  the  Catholic   missiiHt're  dc 


I; 


.lii 


wr 


THE    ^VlHTiMAN    MASSACRE. 


48 


And  tlic  Ii  |vero,  aiul  \vh:il  eftects  tlicy  ])rotliicc(i  amon<ij  the  Indians 

it  Avlion  tlu   |— lln>  Flat  Head  missions  beiiii;'  so  far  olf  that  very  few 
^•oli'staiits  knew  anythiiii;-  of  tlieir  manai>;enieiit. 

\'1I.  The  ultimate  causes  and  the  only  immediate  ones 
vere  the  ravages  of  the  measles  and  dysentery,  together 
ivilh  the  tales  of  Lewis. 

The  eauses  that  I  have  enumei-atod  above,  must  ho 
onsidered  as  so  many  remote  and  indirect  ones,  which 
ad  heen  [)reparing  for  a  long  time  the  way  for  the 
wful  deed ;  but  as  to  immediate  causes  every  sensible 
ei'son  will  lind  it  in  the  ravages  of  the  measles  and  dys- 
itei-y,  which  had  teri-ilied  the  Indians,  a'ld  in  the  tales 
liut  ,)o.  Lewis  spread  among  them,  and  which  agreed  so 
erfeetiy  with  the  long  ])rejudices  and  suspicions  of  the 
iidians,  and  with  the  tales  that  had  been  spread  before 

We  have  sot#y  Tom  Hill.     As   an   evident  proof  of  that   I   refer  to 

he    i>'-nomiHi*plr.  Craitr's  statement  which  we  have  seen  above,  and  as 

limself  l)y  tl 

Ir.  Gervais  tu| 

lalding  throiij 


)n,  they  sa 
speaking  wi 
>wn  by  ever 
•ontidencc  an 
any  body  i 

mprudcnt  c; 
t  Fort  Wal 
'  much  scol'li 
1)1  )ed  the  en 
ice  you  arc  ■ 
ops  to  chasti' 
tive     hundr 


tn 


second  and  yet   stronger  proof  I    introduce   the    hm- 

[iiage  of  Mr.  Spalding  himself 

''It  was  most  distivssing,"  says  ]\Ir.  Spaulding  in   his 

History,'  "  to  go  into  a  lodge  of  some  ten  tires  and  count 

ral  welfare,  ^I'l^v en ty  or  twenty-tive,   some   in   the   midst  of  measles^, 

ny  presence  mhers   in   the  last  stage  of  dysentery,  in  the  midst  of 

hat  in  his  ojii^'cry  kind  of  filth  of  itself  sufficient  to  cause   sickness, 

)  get  excessii 

Dsperity  of  tBifforings,  with  perhaps  one  well  person  to  look  after  the 
their  attentiwants  of  two  sick  ones.  They  were  dying  every  day, 
)f  the  IndiaiijBio,  two,  and  sometimes  five  in  a  day,  wiMi  the  dysen- 
()U<d\t  to  ]wn',  which  very  generally  followed  the  measles.  Every- 
ain  amount  Bhere  the  sick  and  dying  were  })ointed  to  Jesus,  and  the 
habitual  stUoll  were  urged  to  prejjare  for  death. 

Indeed  there    was  enough  there  to  alarm  Indians  and 

excite  them  to  excesses,  if  anybody  knew  how  to  talce 

llvantan'c  of  those   circumstances:    and  that  man  was 

md  in  .lo.  Lewis.     A))peaiing  full  of  solicitude  for  the 

lelfare  of  the  Indians,  he  went  to  them  and  told  them 

at  he  was  himsell'  an  Indian   the  same  as  they  were, 

?longing  (o  the  Chinook  tribe;  ■•  that  formerly,"  as  Mr. 

l)a!(ling  continues  to  relate  in  his  •  History,'  "  the  Amer- 

iins  by  shi]:>s  brought  poison  to  the  lower  country  with 

view   to  destroy    all    the  Indians.      Vast   multitudes 

M'e  destroyed,  as  their  old  men  very   well  recollect — 


11 


le    unfavoi-alj 
ch   1  have 
massacre,  tl 
:vn(l   also  of  I 
\e  general  c( 

to  the  Indiiij 
ndoned.     Wl 
ley  could  s])i| 

they  had  tlj 
ithoiic  missiiJ 


Pi 

m 


mm 


44 


THE  WHITMAN  MASSACRE. 


' 


t;ii. 


'Ml 


referriii«i;,  doubtless,   to  small-pox    u!i(l    measles,    wliid  4 
raided  througliout  the  Territory  some  thirty-live  or  fbi"t\ 
years  ago.*     He.  i)eiii<>;  a  small   child,  was  reserved  hyi 
the  Americans,  taken  to  the  States,  where  he  had  growii  'ourn 


up,  ever  mindful  of  his  native  country,  and  anxious  t 
return  to  his  own  people.     He  told  the  Indians   that  li 
took  pai'ticular  notice  of  the  letters  of  Dr.  Whitman  an 
myself  from  this  country ;  told  them  that  some  of  the 
letters  spoke  of  this  vast  country  as  every  way  desirab 
for   settlement — its    healthy  climate,    its  rich   soil,    tl 
bands  of  horses,   &e.     Some  of  these   letters  called  tl 
poisons  by  which  we  could   sweej)  off  the   Indians   an 
make  way  for  the  Americans.     In  accordance  wdth  tli 
request,    he    said,    several    bottles    of   poison    had    bco., 
brought  over  by  the  last  emigration  which   had  causo| 
many  deaths  antong  the  immigrants,  and  was  the  caii>^ 
of  the  sore  sickness  and  frequent  deaths  among  the 
dians,  and  would  soon  kill  them  all  if  the   Doctor  ati 
Mrs.  Whitman  and  myself  were  not  removed.     This 
received  from  Stikas  in  his  lodge  twenty-four  hours  af'tt 
the  butchery  had  taken  place.     It  seems  that  immoii 
ately  on  my  arrival  Lewis  set  himself  to  excite  the   I 
dians  to  do  the  dreadful  deed.     He  told  them    that 
overheard  Dr.  Whitman  and  myself  consulting  at  niij,' 
as  to  the  most  eifectual  way  to  kill  off  the  Indians 

"  Such  statements,"   Mr.  Spalding  continues,   "  folio 
ing  like  statements  which  have  been  sounding  in  tl 
ears  of  the  Indians  for  years,  and   made  with  so  miui 
aj^parent  solicitude  for  them,  and  at  the  time  of  gro 
excitement  among  the  Indians  on  account  of  the  measKj 
bad  doubtless  much  to  do  in  bringijig  about  the  bloot 
tragedy."     And  for  my  part  I  do  not  hesitate  to  afllii 
that  any  sensible  and  unprejudiced  person    will  conclii 
that  there,  and  there  ordv.  lies  the  immediate  cause 
the  murders,  and  that  such  were  the  true  and  oidy  it 
tives  that  induced  the  Indians  to  |)ei'peti*ate  the  hori-i' 
crime.     All  efforts  to   prove  the   conti'ary   would  ])r< 
nothing  but   the   injustice  and   Idind  prejudice  of  tli 
authors. 

*It  was  in  the  year  1830  that  entire  village.i  wove  swept  away  by  s 
ness.  ■ 


Cln 
Wil 

It  W! 

slioj 

icre 

clu 

iij)ei'i 

lad  tl 

Ort,  i 

the 

•  th( 

go  t 

(■'  Y( 

tlicul 

com- 

On  t 

T)in  t 

tduite 

he 

yy  w 

lAll  i; 

e  CO 

tlie_\ 

uinii 

e  att 

lief's 

itliol 

ts  ai 

id  \)Y( 

at  he 

S  ])0\\ 

d  sa 
Tsecu 


s 


'■A  piet 


I 


THE  >V  HITMAN  MASSACRE. 


45 


rit'ii  Hoil,  til 
ters  called  to^ 
3  liidiuns  an 
aneo  with  tlii 
son    liad    Ixh 


limonc^  the 
ho  Doettr  ati| 
aovcd.  This; 
bur  hours  af't^ 
-■i  that  immodl 
excite  the  I^ 
I  them   that 


CHAPTER  IV. 

'oiirmd  of  the  Principal  Ecimts  that  occurred  in  the  Walla 
Walla  Countnj^fiom  the  arrival  of  the  Bishop  and  his 
Clergy  until  the  moment  they  left  that  Country  for  the 
Willa  m ct te  Settlem ents . 


L'asles.    whici  j 
^'-tive  or  tbvl\  j 
i  reserved  li)  i 
he  had  growM 
id  anxious  tv 
dians  that  li ' 
Whitman  an 
some  of  tlu'v 

way  '^^^^ii^'^'f  fit  was  on  tlic  r)th  of  .September,  1 847,  t  hat  the  llii^dit  Rev. 
isliop  A.  M7 A.  Blanciiet  arrived  at  Fort  Walla  Walla, 
here  he  was  cordially  received  by  Mr.  McBean,  Clerk 
change  of  the  Fort.  He  was  accompanied  by  the 
iiperior  of  the  Oblats  and  two  otlicr  clergymen.  He 
ad  the  intention  of  remaining  but  a  few  daj's  at  the 
3h  had  causes,, ,.(;  for  i,e  knew  that  Towatowe,  (or  Young  Chief,)  one 
was  the  cau>J{'  i\^q  Cayuse  chiefs,  had  a  house  which  he  luid  destined 
r  the  use  of  the  Catholic  missionaries,  and  he  intended 
go  and  occupy  it  without  delay;  but  the  absence  of 
0  Young  Chief,  who  was  hunting  buffalo,  created  a 
tticulty  in  regard  to  the  occupation  of  the  house,  and 
consequence  he  had  to  wait  longer  than  he  wislied. 
On  the  2od  of  .Se])tember,  Dr.  Whitman,  on  his  Avay 
om  the  Dalles,  stopped  at  Fort  Walla  Walla.  His 
ulting  at  HigBunitenance  bore  sufficient  testimony  of  the  agitation  of 
Indians."  Ss  heart.  He  soon  showed  by  his  words  that  he  was 
mues,  "  follomi^.ply  wounded  by  the  arrival  of  the  Bishop.  "  J  know 
ounding  in  tM>,.y  well,"  said  he.  ••  fo)'  what  ])urpose  you  have  come." 
with  80  miw^Y'll  jv^  known,"  replied  the  Bishop,  "I  come  to  labor  for 
time  of  gvp»ie  conversion  of  the  Inlians,  and  even  of  Anioricans, 
of  the  ir.easltB  [\^^^y  .^^.y  willing  to  listen  to  me."  The  Doctor  then 
out  the  blon(B„,fi,,m>(i  j^  the  same  tone  to  speak  of  many  things, 
sitate  to  affiiWc  attributed  the  coming  of  the  Bishop  to  the  Young 
n  will  concluB,i,^>f' jij  Influence — made  a  fiu'ious  charge  against  the 
ediate  cause  ■uholics,  accusing  them  of  having  persecuted  Protcst- 
e  and  only  i^Mts  and  of  even  having  shed  their  Idood  wherever  they 

ite  the  horril^d  prevailed.     He  said  he  did  not  like  Catholics 

at  he  should  oppose  the  missionaries  to  the  extent   of 


•y    WOuhl  \)V' 
ejudice   of  tld 


swell t  away  by  si 


|s]>ower.  .  .  .  He  spoke  against  the  Catholic  Ladder  * 
id  said  that  he  would  cover  it  with  blood,  to  show^  the 
^rsecution  of  Protestants  by  Catholics.     He  refused  to 

f'A  picture  explaining  the  principal  points  of  Catholic  faith. 


m 


i 

4- 


ii 


40 


TIIK  WHITMAN  MASSACRE. 


II  eat 

ice  0 

On 

j^iiUt, 
laiis. 


Holl  provisions  to  tlu'  Hisliop,  and  |)rotoste(l  tliat  lie  woiil: 
not  assist  tiic  iiiissionai'ics  nnli'ss  lie  saw  tlicni  in  stai'va 
tion. 

Al'ti'i*  such    a    niaiiiPestation    of    scntinu-nt    toward- 
Catholics  in  i;-eneral  and  priests  in  particnlar,  the  Hish()| 
\vas  not  astonisliod  at  iieai'in^  some  hours  after  that  l)i 
Whitman  on  leaving  the  Fort  went  to  tho  lo(l<i;o  of  Pid 
pioinoxniox  (or  Yeih)w  Serpent);  that  he  had  s])olven  i;  _ 
^reat  (h'al  ai;'ainst  the   Pi-iests  ;  that   ho    had  wished  t  Jil.l^,. 
j)revaii  n|)on  tliis  chief  to  ('0-o])erate  with   him,  in   oi'dc: 
tliat  by    tho  aid   of  his   intluenee   with   tho   Cayusos,    ji 
Sliutes  and  Dalles  Indians,  he   mio-ht  he  enabled    to  ex 
cite  these  nations  a^'ainst  them,  etc. 

The  cleri;-ymen  who  had  I'omained  l)ehind  with  tli 
wa,<;-ons  and  ett'ects  of  the  mission,  ari'ivod  at  Fort  Wall 
Wallii  on  the  4th  of  October. 

iJnrinii"  the  months  of  October  and  Xovember  the  Di 
Ciinio  to  the  Fort  several  times  to  render  his  pi'ofossioii;; 
services  to  Mrs.  Maxwell  and  Mr.  Thos.  McKa_y;  he  w;i 
a  little  more  reserved  than  at  the  tirst  interview,  but 
"was  always  visible  enough  that  the  sight  of  the  cleri;' 
^vas  fjiv  IVom  being  agreeable  to  him. 

On  tho  2()th  of  October  Young  Chief  camo  to  tL 
Fort,  and  tho  IJishop  asked  him  if  he  was  disposed  to  it 


ceive  a  j)riest  for  him  and   his  young  men  ;  telling   hi 
that  ho  could  only  give  one  tor  the   whole  nation,  aii 
if  the    Cay  uses  wished   to  avail    themselves   of  his  soi, 
vices,  they   would  do  well  to  come  to  an  understundin. 
together  concerning  the  location    of  tho  mission,     '11 
Young  Chief  replied  that  he  would  receive  a  priest  w 
])leasure  ;  that  he  had  long  desired  one,  and  that  he  coiilj 
take  his  house  and  as  much  land  as  he  wanted  ;  but  a> 
mcnins  of  re-uniting  the  Cayuses,  who  had  been  heret 
fore  divided,  and  in  order  to  facilitate  theii'  I'eligious  i 
Btruction,  ho  suggested  tho  idea  of  establishing  tho   nii^ 
sion  near  Dr.  AVhitman's,  at  the  Cam])  of  Tilokaikt,  saj 
ing  that  there  was  more  land  there  than  near  his  hou> 
and  that  it  was  more  central;  that,  by  his  wife,   he  h; 
a  right  to  tho  land  of  Tilokaikt,  and  that  ho  was  di: 
posed  to  give  it  to  the  mission,  if  Tilokaikt  was  willing 


lonii 

lOSO 

Ton 
likt  J 
5k  ing 
ask 
je  coil 
lould 
lould 
|oukl  1 
'd  ai 
lied  ti 
id  no 

1"])0S( 

'0.  an 
<'ee 
|!tt  in 
|c  pric 

Iv 

)Ul(l 

like  p 
b  i'oi' 
in,  h( 
lit  he 
r  in  b 
iidren 
[ired, 
it  he 
lief,  a 
no  pe 
■ision. 
>n  th 


a 


that  ho  would  go  and  live  there  himself  with  his  your] 
men,  if  the  mission  could  be  established  there;  but  tiiM'''' ^'"■" 


•w* 


THE  WHITMAN   MASSACRE. 


47 


h;it  he  woul: 
in  ill    shvi'va 


ij|)  case  this  could  not  be  clone,  his  house  was  at  the  sei*- 
co  of  the  pi'ieKt  at  any  time  he  pleased. 
On  the  2lHh  of  October  the  Bishop,  a<.jrecab]y  to  the 
oi'ds  of  the  Young  Chief,  informed  Tilokaikt  that  he 
-islied  to  see  him;  and,  on  the  4tii  of  November,  Tilo- 
rter  that  j)i  Sjiji^t^  Camaspeio,  and  Tomsakaj.  with  jnany  other  In- 
lodu-c  of  1  10  JjiDs.  were  at  the  Fort.     The  meetin<;j  took  place  atlcr 
hud  spoken  ;>  jjipper :  it  was  done  publicly  and  in  the  presence  of  Mr. 
liomas   McKay   and   all  the  persoriH  at  the  Fort  who 
lose  to  witness  it. 

Toinsakay  spoke  first,  Caraaspelo  next,  and  then  Tilo- 
ilkt  taking  the  floor,  put  man}'  questions  to  the  Bishop: 
king  him  Avhether  it  was  the  Pojk*  who  hnd  ficnt  him 
ask  for  land  for  the  mission — how  the  priests  lived  in 
e  country — who  maintained  them — whether  the  priests 
lonld  make  presents  to  the  Indians — whether  they 
lould  cause  their  land  co  be  ploughed — whether  they 
)uld  aid  them  in  building  houses — whether  they  would 
d  and  clotiie  their  children,  e^c.  kc.  The  Bishop  re- 
iod  that  it  was  the  Pope  who  had  sent  himj  that  he 
(1  not  sent  him  to  take  their  land,  hut  only  for  the 
rposc  of  saving  their  souls  ;  that  liowever,  Laving  to 
e.  and  possessinu'  no  wealth,  he  had  asked  of  them  a 
'ce  of  land  that  he  could  cultivate  for  his  support; 
iit  i'.  his  country  it  was  the  Faithful  who  maintained 
e  priests,  but  that  here  he  did  not  ask  so  much,  but 
iy  a  piece  of  land,  and  that  the  priests  themselves 
uld  do  the  rest.  lie  told  tlu  (vi  that  he  would  not 
ke  presents  to  Indians,  that  he  would  give  them  noth- 
i;  for  the  land  he  asked ;  that  in  case  they  worked  for 
n,  he  would  pay  them  for  their  work  and  no  more; 
It  he  would  assist  them  neither  in  ploughing  their  lands 
•  in  building  houses,  nor  would  he  feed  or  clothe  their 
Idren,  &c.  The  Bishop  then  closed,  the  young  men 
ircd,  and  Tilokaikt  concluded  the  meeting  by  saying 
t  he  would  not  go  against  the  words  of  the  Young 
_ief,  and  requested  the  Bishop  to  send  immediately 
4  wife,  he  'jmio  person  to  visit  his  land  and  select  a  place  for  a 
at  he  was  (ua^i^iQ^  * 

ct  was  williii:;*)^  ^jj^,  gj.|,  of  November  I  went  by  order  of  the  Bishop 

nth  his  yoiiiM    ^ 

1  oro  •   but  tlrM'""  ^"'''''<^''  particular.?  of  the  meeting,  see  Mr.  Thomas  McKay's  state- 


nt    towai 
r,  the  BislK 


ad  wished   t 
him,  in   onK'. 
Cay  uses,    1> 
labled    to  ex 

lind   with   t!i 
at  Fort  Wall. 

Muber  the  T)i 
is  ])r()fessioiui 
L'Ktiy ;  he  ayii 
erview,  but  i 
of  the   cleru'i 

came    to    tl 
disposed  to  n; 
telling  hii:^ 
e  nation,  anj 
OS  of  his  SO! 
nnderstandiu. 
mission.     Tl; 
a  priest  wii 
I  that  l\econl| 
ited  ;  but  as 
been  heret', 
I'cligious  i:j 
shing  the   nii| 
Tilokaikt,  sa| 
his  hou^ 


u 


»oar 


\ 

\ 

.1               < 

1    ■•              ' 

48 


TIIK  WIIIT>rA;«f   MASSACRF. 


cad 
ivet 
ulu 
le  i 


to  Wailatpu  to  look  at  the  land  vvhifli   TiloUaikt  had  of" 
tcrcd  ;  but  he  had  chaiii^cd  his  mind  and  roftised  to  shov 
't  to  mc,  sayin<jf  that  it  was  too  small       Ho  told  n)v  tli;i 
he  had  no  other  i)laeo  to  «xivo  mc  hut  that  oC  Dr.  Wlii:  . 
man,  whom  ho  intended   to  send   away.     1  declared  t  :  . 
him  a  second  time,  the  same  as  the    liishoj)  had  done  a  ;  "i^'  ' 
the  mectin*!^,  that  I    svoiild    not   havo   the   place  of  lif,  ^" 
Whitman.     I  then    went    imnuMliatcly   to  the   camp  u  '^^^"'^^ 
Youni;  Chief,  to  notitV  him  that  I  would  take  his  hoiisi    ^'.1^' 
since  I  was  unable  to  procure  a  i)lace  from  Tilokaikt.  '  . 

I  returned  to  the   Fort  on    the    lOth,  and   on   the  111  l'\'f  ' 


Kev.  Mr.  I'ousseau  left  with  his  men  to  repair  the  hoii.'- , 
and  havinfTcome  had-  >n  the  2(»th,  announcing  that  llr^ 
house  was  in  a  eond  to  be  occupied,   it  was   imiii 

diately  decided  that  .Iiould  <^o  and  lake  our  lodgin 
in  it  the  ne.xt  day.  The  same  di.y  we  received,  at  ll 
Fort,  a  visit  from  Mr.  Spaldini^.  the  Presbyterian  missioi 
ary  of  the  Nez  Perces,  whom  we  acquainted,  during  tl 
conversation,  with  our  intention  of  leaving  the  next  da 
for  our  mission  on  the  IJmatili'.i  river. 

The  next  day,  November  27th,  we  took  our  leave 
Mr.  McHean  and  his  family  to  go  to  the  Umatilla,  wlu:^ 
wo  (the  IJishop,  his  Secretary  ami  myself)  arrivJ 
towards  evening.  IJev.  .Mi*.  Rousseau  remaitied  beliiij 
with  the  wagons  and  baggage,  and  did  not  arrive  uin 
some  days  after 


lent 
|cmb( 
Dm 
•a  I  t 

|l)pos( 
all 


Sat  1 
lowing  is  the  substance  of  a  letter  which  I  iw-.i 

o   Ccd.  (iilliam,    c(,ntaining  a   relation   of  ll 


The  foll< 
dressed    to  ,  _, 

events  which  immediately  followed  our  arrival 


Fort  Walla  Walla,  :>rarch  2,  1848. 
CoL.  Gilliam  : — 

Dear  Sir: — I  have  the  honor  to  reply  to  the  i-eqii 
which  you  have  been  ]dease<l  to  make  mo  lately.     It 
fords  mo  great  satisfaction  to  be  able  to  oblige  you 
giving  you  a  detailed  account  of  the  facts  relative  to  t 
terrible  event  of  the  2!tth   Novenibcr,  1847,  which  li; 
pcned  within  my  knowledge. 

You  know,  sir,  that  eight  Catholic  missionaries,  at 


nco 
lid  w 
e  by 

0  ui 

The 
mat! 
idl 
c  acd 
c  ho 
em 

fee 
atl 
a 
spos( 

rcli 

ftf  all 

ca 

On 

ny  \\l 

the 

e  hac 

see  I 

■  Sp 

h-ing 


S 


THE  WHITMAN  MASSACRE. 


49 


1     1  t  1  .ul  olB*®^^  of  whom   w^as  tho  Bishop,  A.  M.  A.  Blanchot,  ar- 

!•  MdtoBhcvi- ''^*^^  at   Fort    Walla   Walhi   at    tlic  beginniii^r    ot  last 

'  J^?\         .|i,     lutumii,  with  tho  intention   of  dovotin*^   thcmsolvcs   to 

^    ?j.     wiii'     l>c  instruction  of  tho  various  tribes  of  Indians  in  this 

,*    ,     ,'      1  '    )art  of  Orof^on.     Some  were  located  north  of  tho  Coluni- 
l   dechireu  I  ;  '^ 


1  riloUaiict. 
id  on  tho  111 
>|)uir  tho  hous 
neing  that  tl 
it  was  iiniii 
ko  our  lodsj;in 

PC 


|n  a  huntint^  exj)cdition,  from  which   ho  did  not    return 

ill  late  in  the  fall,  ni\d  for  that    reason   tho  eommonco- 

lent  of  our  mission  was  retarded  until   tho  27th  of  No- 

Icmher. 

During  our  stay  at  tho  Fort  wo  saw  Dr.  Whitman  sev- 


iir  the  next  ila' 


^k  our  leave 
Tmatilla,  wlu 
nyself)    arrivii 
einained  hoh" 
ot  arrive  uuii 


ir 


id  when  tho  care  of  tho  Cayusc  mission  Avas  given  to 
c  by  tho  Bishop,  I  indulged  tho  hope  of  being  able  to 

0  upon  good  terms  with  the  Doctor. 
The  day  before  our  departure  from  tho  Fort  for  tho 
matilla,  wo  dined  with  Mr.  Spalding  and  Mr.  Rodgers, 
id  1  assure  you  that  it  w^as  a  satisfaction  to  mo  to  mako 
e  accpiaintanco  of  those  gontlomen.  I  then  indulged 
c  hope  mere  strongly  than  over  of  living  in  peace  with 
em  all,  which  was  in  ])crfect  accordance  with  my  natu- 

1  feelings;  for  those  who  are  acquainted  with  me  know 
1  •  1    T  'M^^  ^  have  nothing  more  j\t  heart  than  to  live   in  peace 

or  which  i  'rntii  all  men,  and  that,   exempt   from    prejudices,  I  am 
alation   ot   "Ugposed  to  look  with  an  equal  eye  upon  the  members  of 
religious  denominations,  to  do  all  I  can  for  the  good 
all  without  regard  to  tho  name  by  which   they  may 
called. 

On  Saturday,  November  27th,  I  left  tho  Fort  in  com- 

ny  with  tho  Bishop  and  his  Secretary  for  our  mission 

the  Umatilla,  twenty-five  miles  from  Dr.  Whitman's. 

oblige  youB^,  j^^^j  scarcely  arrived  in  the  evening,  when,  on  going 

s  relative  to  IB  ggQ  j^  gjj^j^  p^jj.QQj^   J  ](jj^P„(jj    l\^r^i   j)j.    Whitman   and 


re 


rival  : — 

larch  2,  184S. 

to  the   roqu^ 
lately.     It 


847,  which  IkI 
jsiouarios,  at  ll 


Spalding  w^ore  en  route  for  my  mission,  Dr.  Whitman 
Ivinii  been  called  to  attend  to  the  sick 


I 


M 


p" 


■m 


50 


THE  WHITMAN  MASSACRE. 


The  next  day,  being  Sunday,  we  were  visited  by  Dr 
Whitman,  who  remained  but  u  few  minutes  at  the  house, 
and  appeared  to  be  much  agitated.  Being  invited  to 
dine,  he  refused,  saying  that  he  feared  it  would  be  too 
late,  as  he  had  twenty-five  miles  to  go,  and  wished  U 
reach  homo  before  night.  On  parting  he  entreated  nit 
not  to  fail  to  visit  him  when  I  would  pass  by  his  mis 
sion,  which  1  very  cordially  promised  to  do. 

On  Monday,  29th,  Mr.  Spalding  took  supper  with  u? 
and  appeared  quite  gay.  During  the  conversation  lit 
happened  to  say  that  the  Doctor  was  unquiet,  that  tlu 
Indians  were  displeased  with  liini  on  account  of  the  sick 
ness,  and  that  even  he  had  been  informed  that  the  mw- 
f/ercr  (an  Indian)  intended  to  kill  him;  but  he  seeniei; 
not  to  believe  this,  and  suspected  as  little  as  we  did  wlia 
was  taking  place  at  the  mission  of  the  Doctor. 

Before  leaving  Fort  Walla  Walla  it  had  been  decidct^ 
that  after  visiting  the  sick  people  of  my  mission  on  tbf 
Umatilla,  I  should  go  and  visit  those  of  Tilokaikt's  camj 
for  the  purpose  of  baptising  the  infants  and  such  dyin; 
adults  as  might  desire  this  favor;  and  the  Doctor  an^ 
Mr.  Spalding  having  informed  me  that  there  were  stii 
many  sick  persons  at  their  missions,  I  was  confirms 
in  this  resolution,  and  made  preparations  to  go  as  soo: 
as  possible. 

After  having  finished  baptising  the  infants  and  dyiii,| 
adults  of  my  mission,  I  left  on  Tuesday,  the  30th  of  ^Y' 
vember,   late    in   the    afternoon,   for   Tilokaikt's   cani| 
where  1  arrived  between  seven  and   eight  o'clock  in  tl. 
evening.     It  is  impossible  to  conceive   my  surprise  uii 
consternation  when,  upon  my  arrival,  I  learned  that  tl; 
Indians  the  day  before  had   massacred  the   Doctor  ail 
his  wife,  with  the  greater  part  of  the  Americans  at  tl 
mission.     I  passed  the  night  without  scarcely  closing  iii 
eyes.     Early  the   next  morning  I   baptised   three  sit 
children,  two  of  whom  died  soon  after,  and  then  hastt: 
ed  to  the  scene  of  death   to   offer   to  the    widows  an 
orphans  all  the  assistance  in  my  power.     I  found  five 
six  women  and  over  thirty  children  in  a  condition 
plorable  beyond  description.     Some  had  just  lost  the 
husbands,  and  the  others  their  fathers,  whom  the}'  h 
seen  massacred  before  their  eyes,  and    were  expect! 


1  ev( 
'  th( 

f  tlu 

:   WU 

'  int( 
i  dan 
I  ed  ] 

f  unb 

Uhe 

|lndi 

I  a  Ion 

J  and 

tims 

a    si 

lierc 

!of  tl 

thoi 
nan 
thei 
o'/Au 
h 
liroe 
oct( 
nns 
cl  ve- 
il tod 
aiis 
Tlu 

<\!i:(.'t 
<».  L( 

r.  W 

coiil 

li.s  a( 

I'sat 

»al{|i 

II y  L( 

)HSCSl 
11     th 

m'no- 


THE  WHITMAN  MASSACRE. 


51 


sited  by  Dr 
at  the  house, 
ig  invited  to 
,vould  be  toi 
id  wished  U 
311  treated  nit 
i  by  his  mis 

0. 

ppcr  with  uj 
nvevsation  lit 
[uiet,  that  Ih 


•tlie  service  of  Dr.  Whitman,  and  had  been  spared  by  the 
I  Indians,  was  engai^cd  in  washiui^  the  corpses,  but  being 
|ulone  he  was  unable  to  bury  them.  I  resolved  to  go 
land  assist  him,  so  as  to  render  to  those  unfortunate  vic- 


cvery  moment  to  share  the  same   fate.     Tlie  sight  of 
those  persons  caused  me  to  shed  tears,   which,   however, 
1  was  obliged  to  conceal,  for  1  was  the   greater  part  of 
the  day  in  tlie  presence  of  the   murderers,  and  closely 
,  watched  by  them,  and   if  I  had  shown   too    marked  an 
■  interest  in  behalf  of  the  sufferers,  it  would  only  Ijave  en- 
dangered their  lives  and  mine  ;    these  therefore  entreat- 
^  ed  me  to  be  upon  my  guard.     After  the  tirst  lew  words 
Uiuit  could  be  exchan<!;ed  under  such  circumstances,  I  in- 
1,  quired  after  the  victims,  and  was  told  that  they  were  yet 

L        '   ,,       .  /  Hinburied.     .Tosc])h  Stanfield,  a  Frenchman,  who  was  in 
mt  of  the  sick  >-  -  --  ^    '       .  .     .  . 

that  the  mw 
ut  ho  seemei 
as  we  did  wha 

^'^^^''      ,     .  ,    itims  the  last  service  in  my  power  to  offer  them.     What 

*?!!!!>      nth' r    ^'^^'^    "^'^^  ^    ^^'^^    behold!      Ten   dead   bodies  lying 
|liere  and  there,  covered  with  blood  and  bearing  the  marks 
|of  the  most  atrocious  cruelty, — some  pierced  with  balls, 
thcrs  more  or  less  gashed   by  the  hatchet.     Dr.  Whit- 
nan    had    received   three   gashes   on    the   face.     Three 
thers  had  their  skulls  crmsluHl  so  that  their  brains  were 
ozinuj  out. 

It  was  on   the   21Hh  of  Xovcmber,   between   tvv-o  and 

iree  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  while  all  the  jieoplo  at  the 

octor's  house  were  busy,  that  the   Indians   witii  their 

rins  concealed  beneath  their  blankets,  introduced  them- 

elves  successively  :  ito  the  yard,  and  in  an    instant  exe- 

uted  their  horrib' ?  biitchei-y.    Three  or  four  men  (Amer- 

ans)  only  were  ;ible  to  escape. 

,  .     an  '^^'^^^  ravages  which  sickness  had   made  in   their  midst, 

'tlM*^f^*'^''^*'   ^^'^'^   ^^^^  conviction  which  a  half-breed,  named 

JM"-  I^ewis,  had  succeeded  in  fixiny;  upon  their  minds  that 

'r.  Whitman  had  poisoned  them,  were  the  onl}'  motives 

could  discover  which  could   have   prompted   them  to 

us  act  of  murder.     This  half  breed  had  imaii-ined  a  con- 


mission 
ilokaikt's  canv, 
nd  such  dyini 
ho  Doctor  an 
,hero  were  stii 
was  confirniO' 
to  go  as  soo: 

fants  and  dyiii| 
,hc  30th  of  ^^ 
okaikt's  canii| 
o'clock  in  tl. 
ly  surprise  uii' 
learned  that  tl] 


le  means 
[cely  closing 
ised   tliree  sit; 
Ind  then  hastoii 
|ho    widows  ar 
1  found  five 
la  condition  u; 


'  isation     between    Dr     Whitman,    his   wite,    and  Mr. 


jpalding  in  which  he  made  them  say  that  it  Avas  neces- 

ret 

)t 

the 


•    *t  1     t  tluw"^  ^^^  hasten  the  death  of  the   Indians  in  order  to  get 

just    OS       ,  Hossession   of  their  horses  and   lands.  '  If  you  do  not 

,vhom  tiiej     «.j[  the  Doctor,' said  he,   'you  will  all  bo  dead  in  the 

.vere  expectnfl  ^.j^^^,. ,  ^ 

it        o 


52 


•rUE  WHITMAN  MASSACRE. 


I  assure  you,  Sir,  that  during  the  time  I  was  occupied 
in  burying  the  victims  of  this  disastor,  1  was  fur  from 
feeling  safe,  being  obliged  to  go  here  and  there  gathering 
up  the  dead  bodies,  in  the  midst  of  assassins,  whone  hands 
were  still  stained  with  blood,  and  who  by  their  manners, 
their  countenances,  and  the  arms  which  they  still  car- 
ried, sufficiently  announced  that  their  thirst  for  blood 
wes  yet  unsatiated.  Assuming  as  composed  a  manner 
as  possible,  I  cast  more  than  ouo  glance  behind  at  the 
knives,  pistols,  and  guns,  in  order  to  assure  myself 
whether  there  were  not  some  of  them  directed  towards 
me. 

The  bodies  were  all  deposited  in  a  common  grave, 
wlii:;h  had  been  dug  the  day  ))revious  by  Joseph  Stnti- 
field;  and  before  leaving  1  saw  that  they  were  covered 
with  earth.  But  1  have  since  learned  that  the  grave 
not  having  been  soou  enough  enclosed,  had  been  mo- 
lested by  the  wolves,  and  that  some  of  the  corpses  ha! 
been  devoured  by  them. 

"  Having  buried  the  dead,  I  hastened  to  prepare  for 
my  return  to  my  mission,  in  order  to  acquaint  Mr 
Spalding  with  the  danger  which  threatened  him;  becausi 
on  MoiKhiy  evening,  when  he  supped  with  us,  he  hai 
said  that  it  was  his  intention  to  return  to  Dr.  Whitman- 
on  the  following  Wednesday  or  Thurstlay  ;  and  I  wishcii 
to  meet  him  in  time  to  ^-ive  hin\  a  cliance  to  escape 
This  I  repeated  several  times  to  the  unfortunate  widoW' 
of  the  slain,  and  expressed  to  them  my  desii'c  of  beiii, 
able  to  save  Mr.  Spalding.  Before  leaving  the  womoi 
and  children  I  spoke  to  the  son  ofTilokaikt,  whoseemo'; 
to  be  acting  in  tlie  place  of  his  father,  asking  him  t  : 
promise  me  that  they  should  not  be  molested,  and  tliii: 
he  would  take  care  of  them.  'Say  to  them,'  said  lu' 
'  that  they  need  fear  nothing,  they  shall  be  taken  car 
of,  anil  well  treated.  I  then  left  them,  after  saying  wli:i; 
I  could  to  encourage  them,  although  I  was  not  mysol: 
entirely  exemj)t  from  fear  upon  their  account. 

"  On  leaving  the  Doctor's  house,  I  perceived  that  tii; 
son  of  Tilokaikt  followed  mo  in  company  with  my  intir 
preter,  who  himself  was  an  Indian,  his  friend  and  hi 
relative  by  his  wife.  I  did  not  think  that  ho  had  the  In 
tention  of  coming  far  with  us ;  I  believed  that  he  wa 


mer 

for 

whe 

goin 

Spa! 

Ame 

any  i 

1  sav 

■  becai 

;  have 

fausc 

■ :  tlien 

natelj 

-  jn-ete* 

l)ai'ed 

Jing  it, 

'pistolj 

Apcor 

Inadec 

ing  Av 

in's  pi; 

'cngag( 

towan 

I  by  the 

Ithe  I) 

Inows/ 

f  Who 

fJiad  ic 

Itlion  is 

cnt,' 


AV 

fspokei 
ail  in 

)Og(rod 

vould 
»nd  die 
lofbre 
iscoA'e 
t'ast  ni 
I'ohuhl 
'ter  Ik 
akc  if 


>^.i  i 


\\  '^'i 


THE  WHITMAN  MASSACRE. 


53 


occupied 

fur  from 

giithoring 

u)HC  hands 

•  manners, 

still  car- 

for  blood 

a  manner 

iud  at  the 

ire    my  sell 

•id  towards 

lion  grave, 
iscph  St;nv 
re  covered 
,  the  griivo 
I  been  mo- 
iorpses    lui'! 

prepare  for 
L-quaint   Mr 
im ;  becaiii^v 
1  uM,  be  bail 
.  Whitman'^ 
Lud  I  wisbo'i 
to  escape 
I  Kile  widow- 
re   of  beiii^ 
the  womoi 
whoseemoi. 
Icing  him  l 
d,\ind  tha 
in,'   said  1^' 
talcen   ciu' 
saying  whii 
not  my  sol 

t. 

ved  that  tli 
th  my  into! 
end  and  ii 
had  the  In 
that  be  ^v 


mcrcl}^  coming  to  the  river  to  point  out  some  new  place 
for  crossing,  and  that  be  would  afterwards  return.     But 
when,  after  having  crossed  the  river,   be  still  continued 
going   on    with    us,    I   began    strongly   to   fear  for  Mr. 
Spalding.     I  knew  that  the  Indians  were  angry  with  all 
Americans,  and  more  enraged  against  Mr.  .Spalding  than 
any  other.     But  what  could  I  do  in  such  a  circumstance? 
1  saw  no  remedy;  I  could  not  tell  the  Indian  to  go  back, 
because  he  would  have  suspected  something,  and  it  would 
':  have  been  worse ;  I  could  not  start  ahead  of  him,   bo- 
causo  he  had  a  much  better  horse  than  mine  :  I  resolved 
then   to  leave  all  in  the  bands  of  Providence.     Fortu- 
nately, a  few  miinites  after  crossing  the  river  the  inter- 
preter asked  Tilokaikt's  son  for  a  smoke.      The}"  pre- 
l)arcd  the  calumet,  but  when  the  moment  came  for  ligbt- 
iiiii;  it,  there  was   nothing   to  make  fire.     'You  have  a 
pistol,'   said  the  interpreter,  'fire  it  and  we  will   light.' 
Accordingly,  wit^'>ut    stopping,  be  fired  his  pistol,   re- 
1  loaded  it  and  fire    it  again.     Ito  then  commenced  smok- 
'■|ing  Avith   the  interpreter  without  thinking  of  reloading 
Ibis  pistol.     A    few    minutc-^  after,  whih'  they  were  thus 
I  engaged  in  smoking,  I  saw  Mr.  SpaldiuL  come  galloping 
Itowards  mo.     In  a  moment  be  was  at  my  side,  taking  me 
fby  the  band,  and  asking  for  news.     '  Have  you  been  to 
|tlie  Doctor's?'    he   inquired.     '  Yes,'    I   replied.     '  What 
iiiews,'     '  Sad  news?'     '  Is  any  person  dead?'     'Yes,  Sir.' 
l' Who  is  dead,  is  it  one  of  the  Doctor's  children?'     (He 
Ibad  left  two  of  them  verj-  sick.)     '  No,'  I  replied.     '  Who 
ftben  is  dead?'     I  hesitated  to  tell   hi  in      ■  Wait   a  mo- 
tinent,'  said  I,  '  I  cannot  tell  you  now.'      While  Mr,  Spald- 
ing was   asking   me    those    different   questions,    I    had 
iHiioken  to  my  interpreter,  telling  him  to  entreat  the  Tn- 
liaii  in  my  name,   not   to    kill    Mr.    Spalding,   which    I 
begged   of  him  as  a  special    favor,  and  hoped  that  he 
|\vouhl  not  refuse  it  to  me.     1  was  wating  for  his  answer, 
imd  did  not  wish  to  relate  the  disaster  to  Mr.  Spalding 
et'ore  getting  it,  for  fear  that  bo  might  by  bis  manner 
isoover  to   tlie    Indian    Avbat    I  had  told  him;  for  the 
least  motion  like  fliiibt  would  have  cost  him  his  life  and 


)r() 


U'ter 


hably 


expos 


ed 


mme 


also. 


he    son    of  Tilokaikt, 


hesitating  some  moments,  re])lied  that  he  could  not 
uko  it  upon  himself  to  save  Mr.  Spalding,  but  that  ho 


■i'' 


54 


THE  WHITMAN  MASSACRE. 


■5    '110 


would  go  back  and  consult  the  other  Indians ;  and  so  he 
started  back  immediately  to  his  camp.  I  then  availed 
myself  of  his  absence  to  satisfy  the  anxiety  of  Mr.  Spald- 
ing. I  related  to  him  what  had  passed.  '  The  Doe^^or  is 
dead/  said  I,  '  the  Indians  have  killed  him,  together  with 
bis  wife  and  eight  other  Americans,  on  Monday  last,  the 
21)th,  and  I  have  buried  them  before  leaving  to-da}'.' 
'  The  Indians  have  killed  the  Doctor !'  cried  Mr.  Spald- 
ing; .  .  .  •.  they  will  kill  me  also,  if  I  go  to  the  camp  I 
'  I  fear  it  very  much,'  said  I.  '  What  then  shall  I  do?' 
'  I  know  not ;  I  have  told  you  what  has  happened,  decide 
now  for  yourself  what  you  had  best  do ;  1  have  no  ad- 
vice to  give  you  in  regard  to  that.'  '  Why  has  that  In- 
dian started  back?'  he  inquired,  '  I  begged  him  to  spare 
your  life,'  said  I,  '  and  he  answered  me  tliat  he  3ould  not 
take  it  upon  himself  to  do  so,  but  that  he  would  go  and 
take  the  advice  of  the  other  Indians  about  it ;  that  is  the 
reason  why  he  started  back.  Mr.  Spalding  seemed 
frightened  and  discouraged.  '  Is  it  possible  I  Is  it  pos- 
sible!'  he  repeated  sevjral  times;  'they  will  certainly 
kill  me;  and  he  was  unable  to  come  to  any  decision, 
But  what  could  have  prompted  the  Indians  to  this  ?'  he 
incpiired.  '  I  know  not,'  said  I,  '  but  be  quick  to  take  a 
decision,  you  have  no  time  to  lose.  If  the  Indians  should  (ttrk  wli 
resolve  not  to  spare  your  life,  they  will  be  here  very  4»rii()iiii 
soon,  as  we  arc  only  about  three  miles  from  their  cam]).'l^rse  wa 
'  But  where  shall  I  go?"  '  I  know  not,  you  know  tlu  a|fiill  gp 
country  better  than  I;  all  that  I  know  is  that  thotaidhim 
Indians  say  the  order  to  kill  Americans  has  been  soiiilqjdian  n 

loach  ec 

pisto 

}1  retui 

suspicious   to    tiiewo  of  ]y 

|ii  rivcj 
liad  c 
.fter 

hldinui 


him  with  all  my  heart  a  happy  escape,  and  promising 
pray  for  him.     In  quitting  him  I  was   so  much   territioJ 
at  the  thouii'ht  of  the  damper  with  which  he  was  threatl 


|ongst 


cned.  that  I  trembled  In  everv  limb,  and  could  scarco!M|il(i 


lllie  B 


THE    WHITiMAN    MASSACRE. 


55 


ind  so  iic 
1  availed 
,Ir.  Spald- 
Doe^or  is 
thev  with 
y-  last,  the 
if   to-daj'.' 


%old  myself  upon  my  horse.     I  left  him  with  my  inter- 
|)roter,  to  whom  he  a<ijain  put  many  questions,  and   who 


fcoiiited  out  to  him  a  by-road  which  he  would  bo  able  to 
fo 
0  to  the  Dalles,  but  I  am  not  certain.     Mr.   Spalding 


follow  with  most  safety.     I  thought  ho  advised  him  to 


till  continuing  to  aslc  new  questions,  and  hesitating  to 
leave,  the  interpreter  advised  him  to  hasten  his  flight, 


ly  decision 
to  this?' 


he 


Jr.  Spald-  |nd  he  had  left  him  a  moment  before  he  had  decided  to 
:he  camp'."  duit  the  road.  The  interpreter  had  not  left  Mr.  Spald- 
hall  I  do?'  ^ig  more  than  twenty  minutes  when  he  saw  three  armed 
led,  decide  Cayuses  riding  hastily  towards  him,  who  were  in  pursuit 
xvc  no  ad-  gf  ^[r.  Spalding.  Upon  coming  up  to  the  interpreter 
m  that  In-  ||icy  seemed  much  displeased  that  I  had  warned  Mr. 
ni  to  spare  Spalding  of  their  intentions,  and  thereby  furnished  him 
e  30uld  not  4i\th  an  opportunity  lo  escape.  '  The  priest  ought  to 
Lild  ""O  and  I^avc  attended  to  his  own  bussiness  and  not  to  have  inter- 
that  is  the  i^red  with  ours,'  they  said  in  an  angry  tone,  and  started 
no-   seemed  ilimediately  in  pursuit  of  him.     And  they  must  have  in- 

I  Is  it  pos-  ^'itably  overtaken  him  had  not  the  approaching  dark- 

II  certainly  m^ss  of  the  night  and  a  heavy  fog  that  happened  to  fall 
\vn  prevented  them  from  discovering  his  trail,  and 
reed  them  to  return. 

to  take  a  jl  had  continued  my  route  quite  slowly,  so  that  it  was 
iians  shoul'l  fflrk  when  I  reached  the  Spring  on  Marron's  Fork      I 
Vicro  very  qlsnioiinted  for  a  moment  to  drink,  and  on  mounting  my 
rse  was  somewhat  alarmed  fo  hear  a  horseman  coming 
full  speed  in  onr  rear.     I  called  to  the  interpreter  and 
d  him  to  speak  and  inform  him  who  we  ^vere.     The 
lian  recognised  the  name  of  the  interpreter,  and  ap- 
)ached  him  and  spoke  amicably  to  him,  and  fired  off 
pistol.     It  was  the  son  of  Tilokaikt,  the  same  who 
returned  to  camp  to  consult  the  Indians  about  the 
c  of  Mr.  Spalding,     lie    continued  to  accompany  us 
mterpretoi^il  we  reached  the  camp  of  Camaspelo,  on  the  TJma- 
at  his  owifBa  river,  and  there  I  learned  from  the  interpreter  that 
To  this  tluMJiad  come  to  inform  Camas])elo  of  the  horrible  event. 
atpi*ovisioiv«\fter  six  days  of  danger,  privations  and  fatigue,  Mr. 
im    wishiuLiplding  was  enabled  to  reach  his  family  at  his  mission 
promising  tw'ngst  the  No/  Perces,  as  you  have  scon  from  his  letter 
ich  territieJWthe  Bishop  of  Walla  Walla,  since  published   in   the 
was  threalHf.'/o/j  Spectator.     I  was  truly  happy  to  learn  that  Mr. 
uld  scareolj^[il(ling  was  out  of  danger,  and  I  thanked  God  sincerely 


their  camp, 
u  know  the  I 
is  that   thoi 
been  sontj 

to  fly.  II^I 
Home  loose! 
d  him  thail 
ous   to   thef 


.8 


I 


/:  1 


:> 


,1   i 


56 


THE  WHITMAN  MASSACRE. 


for  having  made  mo  instrumental  in  saving  the  life  of  a 
fellow-creature  at  the  peril  of  my  own. 

Some  days  after  an  express  reached  us  from  the  Fort. 
informing  us  that  our  lives  were  in  danger  from  a  por- 
tion ot  lL-^  Indians  who  could  not  pardon  mo  for  having 
deprived  them  of  their  victim;  and  this  was  the  oiilv 
reason  which  prevented  mo  from  fulfilling  |tho  promif? 
which  I  had  made  to  the  widows  and  orphans  of  return 
ing  to  see  them,  and  obliged  me  to  be  contented  witli 
sending  my  interpreter. 

You  are  acquainted,  Sir,  with  the  events  which  fol 
lowed, — the  murder  of  two  sick  men,  who  were  brutallv 
torn  from  their  beds  and  their  throats,  cut ;  the  murdi 
of  the  young  x\merican  when  returning  from  the  mill 
the  good  fortune  of  the  other  Americans  at  the  mil 
who  owed  their  escape  to  a  single  Indian,  (Tintinmitsi 
while  the  others  wished  to  kill  them;  the  violation  o 
three  young  girls;  the  letter  of  Mr.  Spalding,  which  oi 
casionod  the  assomblinc:  of  the  chief's  at  the  Catholi 
mission,  and  their  asking  for  peace  ;  the|  arrival  of  M' 
Ogdcn  and  the  deliveay  of  the  captives. 

Such  are,  Sir,  the  fitcts  and  circumstances  relative  i 
this   deplorable  event,  the  relation  of  which   I  thoui;!; 
would  be  of  a  nature  to  interest  j^ou.     I  am  pleased  wit^ 
the  confidence  you  have  shown  me  by  asking  this  relatif 
at  my  hands,  and  thank  you  sincerely  for  the  same, 
thank   you    more     especially   for   the  opportunity  y 
have  giv^n  me  of  presenting  to  you  a  full  and  candid  e: 
position  of  my  conduct  and  intentions  in    thocircni: 
stances  so  dangerous  and  no  delicate  in   which   I   aed 
dentally  found  myself  involved. 

With  sentiments  of  the  highest  consideration  and 
spect, 

I  have  the  honor  to  bo,  Sir, 

Your  most  ob't  humble  ser't, 
J,  B.  A.  Brouillkt,  Priest, 

Vicar-General  of  Walla  Walla. 


I'Ctorl 


II 


10  J 
JU'ICStf 

icveri 
Tliis 
h^ugh 


I  arrived  at  the  mission  on  Thursday  morning,  2dl 


Wo  Iiati 
1(1  had 
|arri»ral 


\ii 


i  II 


THE  WHITMAN  MASSACRE.  57 

J")ocembci*,  and  announced  to  the  inmates  the  frightful 
|idiiigs  wiiicb  were  3'ot  unknown  to  them. 
■?  On  the  ild  tlio  Bishop  called  for  the  Young  Chief  and 
lis  brotiier,  Fis'o  Crows,  in  order  to  express  to  tlieni 
ow  deeply  he  had  been  pained  by  the  news  of  the  hor- 
nji  ,.-,....5  |.j^j1^j  affair  at  Wailatpu,  and  to  recommend  to  their  caro 
as  the  oiu\  |j^^  ^viclows  and  orphans,  as  well  as  the  men,  who  had 
be  promisi  1  ,j,.^,iyed  the  massacre.  They  protested  they  gave  no 
is  of  return-  lQ,^gent  to  what  had  happened  at  Wailatpu,  and  prom- 
scd  to  do  all  in  their  power  for  the  survivors. 
Some  days  after  we  learned  that  a  young  man,  who 
ad  been  engaged  working  at  a  saw-mill  some  twenty 
,iiles  from  the  establishment  of  the  Doctor,  with  some 
ither  Americans,  had  been  killed  on  his  return  from  the 
ill  to  the  Doctor's,  and  that  the  Indians  intended  to 
ill  the  others. 

On  the  lOtli  we  received  the  ])ainful  intelligence  that 
wo  other  3'oung  men,  who,  being  sick,  had  been  spared 
y  the  Indians  at  the  time  of  the  first  massacre,  had 
iico  been  torn  from  their  bed  and  cruelly  butchered. 
^e  learned  at  the  same  time  that  the  other  men  be- 
tifing  to  the  mill  had  been  spared  and  brought  to  the 
oetor's  for  the  purpose  of  taking  care  of  the  women 
ul  children. 

On  the  11th  of  December  we  had  the  affliction  to 
;ur  that  one  of  the  captives  had  been  carried  off  from 
e  Doctor's  house  by  the  order  of  Five  Crows,  and 
■ought  to  him;  and  we  learned  that  two  others  had 
ion  viohited  at  the  Doctor's  house. 

On  the  IGtb  two  Nez  Perce  chiefs  (Inimilpip  and  Tip- 
lanahkeikt)  brought  us  the  following  letter*  from  Mr. 
uldinu' : — 


ic  life  of  a 

n  the  Fort, 

roni  a  poi- 

for  bavins; 


tented  witli 

s  wbieb  fol 
;ere  brutalli^ 

the  mnrdoi 
om  the  mill 

at  the  mil! 
Tintinmitsi. 
)  violation  ( 
ng,  which  oe- 

the  Catboli 
u-rival  of  ^^'■ 

ea  relative  t 

ich  I  thout^l; 

,1  pleased  wit 

igtbisrelati 

the  same 

portunity  y 

,nd  candid  e 

n    thecircni^ 

kvhich  I   ftci 


Lration  and 


lia  Walla- 


Imorning, 


Clear  Water,  Dee.  10th,  ^.847. 
the  Bishop  of  Walla  Walla  or  either  of  the  Catholic 
||)ri(!Sts  : 

piuverend  and  dear  friend, — 

rfhis  hasty  note  may  inform  you  that  I   am  yet  ilivo 
If'ough  the  astonishing   mercy  of  God.     The  hand  of 

Wo  had  reason  to  be  astonished  at  that  confidence  oi  those  Indians,  aa 
jiad  !iad  as  yet  no  opportunity  of  seeing  any  one  of  the  Nez  Torces  since 
i.  ijljarrival  in  the  country. 


■I 


58 


THE  WHITMAN  MASSACRE. 


\i:t 


:  ■'  *i 


tho  merciful  God  brouglit   mo   to   my  family    after  si 
days  and    nights   from   the    time  my  dear  fricndf  i'w 
nished  mo  with  provisions,   and  I  escaped  from  the  In, 
dians.     My  daugiiter  is  yet  a  captive,  I  fear,  but  in  tl 
bands   of  our  merciful  heavenly    father.     Two  Indiam 
have  gone  for  her.     My  object  in  writing  is  principal 
to  give  information  through  you  to  the  Cay  uses  that  it 
our  wish  to  have  peace;  that  we  do  not  wish  the  Amci 
icans  to  (fomo  from  below  to  avenge  the  wrong;  we  lio[j 
tho  Cayiises    and   the   Americans   will    be   on    friendij 
terms;    t!iat   Americans    will    no    more    come   in   tho 
countr}'  iiiiless  they  wish  it.     As  soon  as  these    men  r 
turn,  I  iiope,  if  alive,  to  send  them   to  tiie  Grovernor 
prevent  Americans  from  coming  up  to   molest   the  Cii 
uses  for  what  is  done.     I  know  that  3'ou  will  do  all 
your  power  for  tho  reliet  of  the  captives,  women  a 
children,  at  Wailatpu ;  you   will  spare   no  pains  to  ;i 
pease  and  quiet  the  Indians.     There  arc  five  America 
here,   my   wife  and  three  children,  one  young  worn 
and    two    Frenchmen.     We    cannot   leave    the    count 
without  help.     Our    help   under  God  is  in   your  han| 
and  in  the  hands  of  the   Hudson's  Bay  Company.     ( 
help  come  from  that  source?     Ask   their  advice  and 
me  know.     I  am  certain  that  if  the  Americans  alio 
attempt  to  come  it  would  bo  likely  to  prove  tho  ruin 
us  all    in   this  upper  country,    and   would    involve  t 
country  in  war:  God  grant  that  th.'y  may   not  attoii| 
it.     At  this  moment  I  have  obtained  permission   of 
Indians   to    write    more,    but   I    have    but    a    mom 
Please  send  this  or  copy  to  Governor  Abernethy. 
Nez  Forces   held    a  meeting   yesterday;  they   plod!| 
themselves  to  protect  us  from  tho  Ca_yuses  if  they  woj 
prevent  tiie  Americans  from  coming  up   to  avenge 
TEurders.     This  we  have  pledged  to  do,  and   for  this 
beg  for  the  sake  of  our  lives  at  this  place  and  at 
Walker's.     B}^  all   means  keep  quiet  and  send   no 
reports,  send  nothing  but  proposals  for  peace      They 
they  have  buried  the  death  of  the  Walla  Walla  cli 
son,  killed   in   California.     They  wish  us  to   bur}-^ 
oflfence.     I  hope  to  write  soon  to  Gov.  Abernethy,  b 
yet  tho  Indians  are  not  willing,   but  are  willing  tli 
■fMy  dear  friend,  because  he  was  yet  in  tho  hole,  as  the  Indians  sat 


ate  In 

itman, 

ty.     T 

m  all  t 

travel 

waj'  o 

0  day  I 

OS  as  11 

1,  andf 


F 


urns,  ul 


n  th< 


bl( 


odd 


10 


tl 


intol 


foi 
can 


ir; 


icul, 

Igoue  bj 
extei 


ml 


send 
mil  olj 


THE  WHITMAN  MASSACRE. 


69 


ly  after  su^ 
tViciult  fii'i 
i'om  tlio  In, 
r,  but  in  tli 
Two  lndiaii| 
s  principal 
uses  that  ili 


iould  send  those  hints  through  you.  1  hope  you  will 
id  by  all  means  and  with  all  speed,  to  keep  quiet  in 

le  Willamette.  Could  Mr.  Grant  come  this  way,  it 
>uld  bo  a  great  favor  to  us  and  do  good  to  the  Indians. 

Il  just  learn  that  these  Indians  wish  us  to  remain  in 
country  as  hostages  of  peace.  They  wish  the  com- 
Imication  for  Americans  to  be  kept  open.  Wo  are 
lling  to  remain  so  if  peace  can  bo  secured.     It  does 


sh  the  AmcMj;  seem  safe  for  us  to  attempt  to  leave  the  country  in 
3ng;  we  hof*-  way  at  present.     May  the  God  of  heaven  protect  ui 
on   friendl^l  finally  bring  peace.     These  two  men  go  to  make 
CO,   and   when    they  return,  if  successful   with   the 


ome   in  tho 

hese   men  v, 

Governor 

lest   the  Cai 

will  do  all 

1,  women  a 

)  pains  to  m 

.vo  Am  eric  11 

,'oung  woma, 

}    the    counli 

in   your  liani 

lompany.    ^' 

advice  and 

ericans  «ho 

,ve  tho  ruin 

d    involve  t| 

y   not  atto 

•mission  ot 

ut    a    moin(( 

jernethy. 

they    plod 
s  if  they  wol 
to  avenge 
nd  for  this 
U'c  and  at 
d  se.ul   no 
leacc      They 
a  Walla  oh 
IS  to   bury 


lyuses,  they  will  go  to  the  Willamette.  We  have 
rned  that  one  man  escaped  to  Walla  Walla,  crossed 
r  the  river,  and  went  below.  Ho  would  naturally 
pose  that  all  were  killed.  Besides  myself,  another 
ite  man  escaped  wounded  and  ioached  my  place  three 
s  before  I  did. 

jatc  Indian  reports  say  thot  no  women  except  Mrs. 
[litman,  or  children,  were  killed,  but  all  are   in  cap- 

ity.  These  people,  if  the  Cajuses  consent,  will  bring 
Im  all  to  this  place. 


traveled  onl}^  night?"  ar.d  hid   myself  days,   most  of 
way  on  foot,  as  my  hoi'se  escaped  from  me ;  suffered 
0  days  from  hunger  and  cold  and  sore  feet;  bad  no 
cp,  as  I  threw  my  boots  away,  not  being  able  to  wear 
n,  and  also  left  blankets.     God  in  mercy  brought  me 
e.     From  the  white  man  who  escaped,  and  from  the 
inns,  we  learn  that  an  Indian  from  the  States,  who 
in  the  emploj''  of  Dr.  Whitman,  was  at  the  head  of 
bloody  affair,  and  helped  demolish  the  windows  and 
tho  property.     We  think  the  Cay  uses  have  been 
d  into  the  dreadful  deed.     God  in  his  mercy  forgive 
,  for  they  know  not  what  they  do.     Perhaps  these 
can  bring  my  horses  and  things.     Please  give  all 
iculars  you  have  been  able  to  learn,  and  what  news 
gone  below.     How  do  the  women  and  children  fiirc  " 
tv  extensive  18  the  war  ?     In  giving  this  information 
jernethy,  b^Jl  sending  this  letter  below   to  Governor  Abernethy, 
)  willing  till  will  oblige  your  afflicted  friend.     I  vvould  write  di- 

the  Indians  s'ivf 


=  1 


'T<r'irMiiailiiii 


fi  I 


fM! 


THE  WHITMAN  MASSACRE, 

fectly  to  the  Governor,  but  the  Indians  wish  me  to  if 
till  they  r«turn. 

Yours  in  affection  aud  with  best  wishes, 
(Signed)  11.  H.  Spalding. 

The  two  Nez  Perce  chiefs  advised  the  Cayuscsto  tal 
measures  for  avoiding  a  war  with  the  Americans.     Th| 
i'equested  the  Bishiop  to  write  to  Gov.  Abcrncthj'',  bcj 
ging  him  not  to  send  up  an  army,  but  rather  to  coij 
himself  in  the  spring  and  make  a  treaty  of  ])eace  wil 
the  Cayuses,  who  promised  that  they  would  then  rolci 
the  captives  of  Wailatpu, — promising  besides  to  off'eri 
injury  to  Americans  until  they  heard  the  news  from 
Willamette.     The  Bishop  told  them  he  was  glad  of  tlij 
proceeding,  and  was  disposed  to  assist  them  to  the 
tent  of  his  power,  but  that  he  could  not  write  witliti 
knowing  the  opinion  ot  the   Cayuses,  and  that  as  sol 
as  he  could  learn  this  ho  would  send  an  express   bekl 
lie  then  encouraged  them  to  see  all   the  chiefs  aboiitj 
■   On  the  18th  of  December  Camaspelo  came  to  see 
Bishop,  and  told  him  that  he  had  disapproved  of  all  t| 
had  happened  at   Wailatpu, — that  the  young  men 
stolen  his  word.     He  seemed  discouraged,  and   spokel 
iilling  all  the  horses  and  of  leaving  the  country,  asf 
the  Indians  expected  to  die.     The  Bishop  succeeded 
raising  his  spirits  a  litilo  by  representing  to   him 
possibility  of  yet  obtaining  peace,  and  told  him  that 
chiefs  ought  to  meet  as  soon  as  possible,  in    order 
come  to  an  understanding  among  themselves  as  to  \i\ 
was  best  to  do  in   this  matter;  that  the   more  they 
Jayed,   the    more   difficult  the   arrangement   of   affj 
would  become. 

The  20th  being  fixed  upon  as  the  day  of  the  meetiKI/'V  ' 
Camaspelo  retired  with  apparently  increased  co^^'Ani-, .' 
promising  to  notify  the  other  chiefs  and  secure  thcirP'  ^'^'' 
tendance.  Accordingly  on  Monda}-,  20tli  Pccembeij 
the  Catholic  mission,  the  Cayuses  assembled  in  Gil 
Council,  held  by  Tawatoe,  (or  Yv)ung  Chief,)  Tilokal 
Achekaia,  (or  Five  Crows,)  and  Camaspelo,  all  thegiT 
chiefs  of  the  Cayuses,  in  presence  of  many  other  gj 
men  (second  chiefs)  of  the  nation.  About  10  o'clocli 
the  morning  they  all  entered  the   mission    house 


"'TI^iaijijqGiraii'i.u,,! 


THE  WHITMAN  MASSACRE. 


61 


ish  mo  to  ivl 


fislioi)   was   present,   together   with  Messrs.  Rousseau, 
ctlaire  and  myself. 
After  a  deep  silence  of  some  minutes  the  Bishop  cx- 
ilaiiiod  to  them  the  (^hjcct  of  the  mooting,     lie   hogan 
6y  ox|)re3sing  to  them  the  pleasure  lie  felt  in  seeing  them 
Ims  assomhlod  for  the  j)urpose  of  deliherating  on  a  most 
inportant  suhject — that  of  avoiding   war,  which  is  al- 
lays a  gi-eat  evil.     ITo  told  them  that  in  matters  of  im- 
lortance  thev  should  always  ludd  a  council  and  consult 
|)Ose  who  might  be  host  able  to  give  them  good  advice; 
Kit  in  giving  their  advice  separately,  they  wore  liable 
I  ho  niisundi'rstood,  and  thereby  expose  themselves  and 
loir  ])oople  to  groat  misfortunes  ;  and  he  was  persuaded 
iat  if  the  chiefs  had  deliberated  together  they  would 
|)L  now  have  to  deplore  the  horrible  massacre  of  Wai- 
Itpii,  nor   to  fear  its  probable  couse(]Uoiices.     lie   told 
)eni  that  two  Xez  Perce  chiefs  had  asked  him  to  write 
i  the  Great  (-hicf  of  the  Willamette    to  obtain  peace, 
it  that  he  could  not  do  so  without  the   consent  of  the 
liyuses  ;  that  the  ])ropositions  wdiich  those  chiefs  wished 
]  send    were  these  : — 1st.  That  Americans  should   not 
imc  to  make  war;  2d.  That  they  should  send  up  two 
]  three  gj-eat  men  to  make  a  treaty  of  peace;  3d.  That 
lien    thosa   great   men   should   arrive   all  the    captives 
lonld   be  released  ;  4th.  That  they    would  ofTer  no  of- 
kice  to  Americans  before  knowing  the  news  from  below. 
[The  Bishop  then  desired  them   to  speak  and  to   say 
liat  they  thought  of  those  ])ropositions. 
ICaniasjieh)  spoke  first,     lie   was   blind  and  ignorant, 
Id  had  despaired  of  the  life  and  salvation  of  his  nation. 
It  the  words  of  the  Bishoj)  had   ojiened  his  eyes,  con- 
led  and  encouraiiiod  him  ;  that  he  had  confidence  and 


It  h( 


c  anni'ovc 


ipp 


d  tl 


e  propositions 


[lilokaikt   then   rose  to  say  that  he   was  not   a  great 

\iker,  and  that  his  talk  would  not  bo  long,     lie  then 

riewod   the   history  of  the  nation  since  the  arrival  of 

whites*  in  the  country  down  to  the  present  time. 

said  that  before  they  had  been  visited   by  white  men 

Indians  were  always  at  war  ;  that  at  the  place  wdiere 

Irt  Walla  Walla  now  stood  nothing  but  blood  wascon- 

I French,  or  IIiid.son's  Ba^  Company  people, 

0 


f 

! 

!    ■                         i 

i  i            - 

1  ■ 

02 


THE  WHITMAN  MASSACRE. 


tinuaily  seen  ;  that  tljcy  hud  been  taught  oy  the  vvhiit; 
thoro  was  a  Crod  who  forbid  men  to  kill  each  other ;  tli: 
sinco  this  time  they  hud  aivvayn  lived  in  peace  and  i 
deavoi'ed  (o  pei'snade  otliors  to  do  the  same.     lie  em 
gised   Mr.    Ponibrun,  spoke  of  a  Nez    Perco  chief  wi 
bad  been  killed  on  his  way  to  the  States,  afterwards 
the  son  of  Yellow  Serpent,  who  had  been  killed  by  Auk 
leans  in  California;  said  l'':it  they  had  for;^-otteii  all  tli 
He  sj)oke  also  of   Dr.  Whilnian    and  ^Ir.   Spalding-,  a; 
fiinshed  b}'  saying'  that   sinee  they  had  ibr<^-otten   all,< 
ho|>ed   the  Americans  would   also  fori^et  what  had  hi 
recently    done,   that    now   they    were   even.     Jle  s])u.. 
nearly  two  hours. 

Acliekaia  (or  Five  Crows"^  arose  only  to  Hu^-<^est  soi 
other  ])r()[)Ositions  which  he  Avished  added  to  those  . 
ready  announced. 

The  Youn<r  Chief  said  but  little.     lie  said  ho  was  \.i 


and  did  not  leel  able   t 


J    (l.  Uv 


louix.     Ho  was  in  favori 


the  propo.silions  as  well  as  those  who  had  spoken  bell 


iim. 


a  IIS  ; 


Edward,    the    son  of  Tilokaikt,    then  came  forwi 
bearin«i;  in  his  hand   the    (SdlioUc    Ladder  stained    \ 
blood:  he  repeated  the   words  which   Dr.  Whitman 
used  when  he  showed   it  to  them,  one  or  two  week^jij 
fore  ho  died  :     "  You  see  this  blood!  it  is  to  show  ijoa  f^h 
noiL\  because  you  have  the  priests  amotu/  you,  the  eoutttrif 
goiiuj  to  be  covered  with  blood  !  !      You  will  hare  nothimj  /. 
but  blood!"     lie  then  related   what  had   passed,  g-avi 


touching  picture  of  the  atHicted  families  in  seeing  I 
to  the  grave  a  father,  a  mother,  a  brother,  or  a  sisttj 
spoke  of  a  single  member  of  a  family  who  had  been  iHn 
to  wee})  alone  over  all   the   I'cst   who   had  disappear 
lie  staled  how  and  for  what  the  murder  had  been  ocj 
mitted,  entered  in  the  most  miniiti;  details,  avoiding,  In 
evei',  to  give  any  knowledge  of  the  guilty;   repeateil 
woi'ds  which  Jo    Lewis   said    bad    ])assed    between 
Whitman,  his  wife,  and  Mv.  S[)aldiMg,  and  finally  spi 
of  the  pretended  declaration  of  Mr.   Rogers  at  the 
ment  of  his  death  :  •'  that  Dr.  AVhitman  had  been  poi> 
ing  the  Indians." 

After  having  deliberated  toi^ether  the  chiefs  eoncliiil 
by  adding  something  to  the  propositions  of  the  Ne/  rj 
COH,  insisting  principally  u])on   the  reasons  which  tl| 


b'ii¥'"iiilli"ii'filiiii«i  I 


TIIK  WHITMAN  MASHAmF.. 


03 


•y  the  wlnit- 
h  other ;  tlis 
ouco  and  v 
Hi.  lie  cul 
L'o  chief  wl 
itler  wards 
lied  hy  Auu 
;()tten  all  tlr 

i^piihliiij^'.  ;i; 
u-olten   till,. 
hat  had  hcif 
n.     He  spn,| 


\   to  those  J 


d  ho  wivH  wii 
vas  in  lav  or 
spoken  beM 

eanie   Torwarj 
/•  stained    w 
Whitman  In 
two  weeks 
shoir  you  i 
r,  the  (U)Uiitf 
urc  not  hi  n  (J  h 
)assed,  gavi 
I  seeing  '" 
.>r,  or  a  wist 
lO  had  heen  ' 
I  disappear^ 
lad  heen  oui 
avoiding,  li'-' 
repeate( 
hetweeu 
d  tin  ally   spi 
ers   at  the  i 
lad  been  poi 


'hiefs  eoncUiJ 
of  the  Noz  11 
)iis  whiclj  tf 


retende'l  ought   to   excuse   tlu'ir  action,   and    re(|uesti'd 

lie  Hishoj)  to  send   to  the  (iovernor  in   their  name   the 

Allowing  inaiufesto  : — 

'•The  |)rincipal  chiefs  of  the  Cayuses  in  council  a'^sein- 

leil  slate  :  That  a  young  Imliaii    who   understands    |<hi- 

iish.  and  who  sle|)t  ill  Dr.    Whitman's  room,  heard   the 

)()etor,  his  wife,  and  Mr.  Spalding.   e\i)ress   their  desire 

f  possessing  the  lands  aiui  animals  of  the  Indians;  that 

jc   statt'd  also  that    .Mr.   Spalding   said   to  tlu^    Doctor: 

luii-ry  giving  medicines  to   the   Indians  that   they  may 

^oii  die;'  that  the  name   Indian    told   the  Cayuses  :  "if 

)ii  do  not    kill    the  J)octor  soon,  you   will  all  he  dead 

'fore  spring;'  that  they  hurietl  six  Cayust-s  on  Sunday, 

ovemher  -Sth.  and  three  the  next  day  ;  that  the  schod- 

jiister,  Mr.  Hodgers,  stated  to  them  hefore   he  died,  that 

[lo  Doctor,  his  wife,  and  Mr.  Spalding  poisone(l    the    In- 

aiis ;  that  joi"  si'veral  years  past   they    had    to  deplore 

e  death  of  their  childrt'ii.  ai'd  that  according  to   thi\so 

ports  they  wei-e  led  to  helieve  that  the  whites  had    ui:- 

[Ttakeii    to    kill    them    all  ;  and    that    these     were    the 

lotives  which  led  them  to  kill  the  Americans 

The  same  chiefs  as!<  at  pri'sent — 

1st.  That  the  Americans  may  not  m)  to  war  with    the 
lyases. 

'1{\.  That  they  may  forget  the   lately   committed    miir- 

irs,  as  the  (Viyuses  will  torget  the  mmvler  of  the  son  <»f 

0  great  chief  of  Walla  Walla.  (")mmitted  in  Calilnrnia. 

)(l.  That  two  or  three  great  n  en  may  come  up  to  con- 

ile  ])eace. 

hli.  That  as  soon  as  these  great  men  havearrivi'd  and 
Deluded  ])eace,  they  may  take  with  tlu'in  all  ihe 
mien  and  children. 

r)tli.  They  give  assurance  that  they  will  not  harm  the 
loricans  l)efore  the  arrival  of  these  two  or  three  great 
II. 

th.  They  ask  that  Ame^-'cans  may  not  travel  any 
re  through  their  country,  as  their  young  men  might 
them  harm. 

lace  of  Tawatowe,  Youmatilla, 
2oth  December,  J^47, 


(Signed) 


TlLOKAIKT, 

Camaspklo, 
"j  Tawatowe, 

l^  ACIIEKAIA. 


■  (£ 


^tis;.^ 


W\ 


IM 


■m 


■  ■-■■.■■:\)>df-^^A^J>^. 


64 


TIIK  WHITMAN  MASSACRF,. 


m 


Tlie  Bishop  accompaniod  this  manifesto  with  a  h'tti 
a(hlresse(l   to    the   (rovcnior,  which   coiu-hided   in    th('> 
terms:  "  It  is  siiffleieMt  to  state  that  all    these   spcecli. 
went  to  sliow,  that  since  tliey  IkuI  been  instructed  hy  (i 
whites  they  abhorred  wai",  and   tiiat  the  tra,!i;e<ly  of  lli 
2!)tli  had  occurred  from  an  anxious  desii-e  of  self|)res( 
vation,  and   that  it   was   the   rej)orts    made  ai;'ainst  tl 
Doctor  and  otliers  which  led  them   to   commit    this  in 
The}'  desire  to  have  the  ])ast  fori;-otten  and   to  live  : 
peace  as  before.     Your   Excellency   has   to  judi;"e  of  ili 
value  of  the  documents  whici)  I  have   been  requested  ; 
forwai'd  to  you.     Nevertheless,  without  havin<jj  the  lea- 
intention  to  influence  one  way  or  the  othei-,  I  feel  niysi 
obliged  to  tell  you,  that  by  goinii;  to   war  with   the   C;i 
uses,  you  will  likely  have  all  the  Tndians  of  this  counir 
against  you.     Would  it   bo   for  the   intei'est  of  a  y<»ii! 
colony  to  expose  herself  i'     That,  you  will  have  to  deci 
with  youi'  Council. 

Bel'ore  takin<jf  leave  of  the  Chiefs,  the    Bishop   sail 
them  all  ])ublicly,  as  he  had  also  done  several  times  y 
vately.  tliat  those  who  had  taken  Amei'ican  g'ills  shoir 
jjjive  them  up  immediately.      And  then  all  entreated  Fp 
Ci'ows  to  i^ive  u[)  the  one  whom  be  had  taken,  hut  to 
])ur|tose. 

Mr   ()o;den  had  ai'rlved   at    Fort    Walla   Walla  ou  i 
r.tdi  of  iK'cembcr,  in  the  eveiiini;'.  with  the  intention 
ol»taiiiini;'  from  tlu^  Cayusc'^  tbe  release  of  all  the  Am 
lean  pri-oners       lie  had  sent  imme  liately   an   express 
tlie  Cayuscs.  notifying  tlie  chiefs  to  axscmbh*  wihout  ' 
lay  at  Walla  Walla      The  >iame   express   had    brougiit 
letter  to  the  Bishop  requesting  him  to  attend  thea>si 
I)  y  of  the  chiefs      Tnc    Bishop   being  unable  to  at  t 
then.  I  went  'o  Fort  Walla  Walla  on    the   lilst,    in   cij 
]iany  wi  h  an  Indian  chief,  to   nu'et    Mi*.  Ogden.  an 
inform  him  of  what  had  passed  in  the   ('ouncil   lu'ld 
day  bef')re  a     the   mission.     It    was  the  tirst   time 
any  om?    of  us    liad   dare(|    to    leave   the   Young  ('liii 
camp  since  the  burial  of  the   murdered,  and    Mr.   Sp 
ings    escape,    for    lear    of   the    Indians    of    Tilokai 
catnp. 

At   the   renewed    request  of  Mr.  Ogden,  the   \V\> 
came  to  the  Foj't  next  day,  and  on  the  'liUl  the  asseiii 


|(H1V0 
llld   1 

i)om, 
lie  m( 
lirew 

IlK'W 

[leni 

-teoc 

Itnie  ( 

I  an  CO 

I'll; 

li-  thei 

[ay  ( '( 

ey  w 

VI  me 

jei-e  1 1 

[I's  on 

the  n 

H'  pri. 

it's  Is, 

ill  tea 

K  <^"om 

it  thei 

iiisi.- 

^tiiicti 

let  on 

|o  Cay 

ten  ; 

leiijd 

•in  th 

(lemu 

[11  ail 

['V  sl)( 

'lU   in; 

prom 

fov. 

Ma  tifi 

pacco, 

K'lei-. 
he   V 
ii-e  Ui 

'111'  Ol.Iat 


h: 


i' 


(]'  II 


THE  WHITMAN  MASSACRE. 


05 


with  a  U'ttf 
uk'd  in   tlu^ 

j'ucUhI  by  ti 
•nnxMly  of  ill 
ot'  sc'lt'-jtrcx 
0  a,L;"tvinst  tl 
nniit    this  i\k 
md  to  live 
)  jii(l.i*;c  of  il 
\  roquestoil  : 
avitifi;  the  Km 
T,  I  feel  inysi 
with   the   Cii 
»f  tills  coniiu 
est  of  a  you' 
have  to  dei'K 


Bishop   salt 
.-oral  tiiMOs  y 
ail  i^ii'ls  sh(H! 
1  entreated  V\ 
akeii.  but  to 


fdivoked  by  Mr.  Oj^'den  took  pluco.     The   Young   Chief 

iiid  Tilokuiki,    with   a  dozen  young  men,   wei-e   in   the 

Doni.  arid  at  half  past  nine,  A.   M.,    Mr.   Ogden   opened 

|ie  meeting,     lie  spoke   forcibly   against   the  massaere, 

brew  the   wliole  blame    upon   the  eliiefs.   who,    he   said 

iK.'W  not   how   to   restrain    their  young   men.     He   told 

(loni    it    was    useless    to    have    chiefs   if   they    are    not 

.tened  to.      He  made  them  understand  that  he  did   not 

tune  on  the  |)art   of  the    Amei'ieans;  that   he   had    left 

[auc-ouver  before  they  knew  what  had   passed   at   Wail- 

jiii ;  that  he  knew  the  Cayuses,   and   had    been   known 

them  a  long  time  ;  that  the  French  people  (Hudson's 

:iy  Company)  had  never  deceived  them  ;  that  hehopc-d 

ley  would  listen  to   his  words;  that  the  Company  did 

[tt  meddle  with  the  affairs  of  the  Americans;  that  there 

I're  three  ])ai'ties,  t\n)  Americans  on  one  side,  the   Cay- 

M'^  on  the  other,  and  the  I'^rench  people  and  the   priesrs 

the  middle;   that  (he  Comiiany  was  there  to  ti-ade  and 

i  ^0  j)riests    to    teach    them    tlieir  duties;  listen    to    the 


iests,  said  he  several  times,   listen    to  the  priests,  they 

II  teach  you  how  to  lead  a  good  life;  the  ])riests  do 

t  c(»me  to  make  war.  they  cairy  no  arms,  they  carry 

t  llieii"  crucitixes.*  and  with   them   they   cannot   kill. 

'  insisted  ])articularly,  and  at  several  times,  u])on   the 

Walla  oil  tfttiiiction  necessary  to  be  made  between  the  affairs  of 

le  intention  Wo  Comjiany  and  those  of  the  Americans.     He  said  to  all 

'  all  the  Aiii^e  Cayus(>s  that  they  had  Chiefs  to  wdiom  they  ought  to 

an  e.\'pres>j|u'n  ;  that  the  young  men  were  blind,   and   tieir  chiefs 

)le  wi.hout  l^ould  not  allow  them  to  do  as  they   ]deased.      He  told 

had   broiigii* 

t*M)d  the  assi 

nable   to   at  t 

•ilst,    in   (■" 

()o(len.  and 

ouncil   held  ' 

first  tiu\e  I 

Young  ^'''' 
and    Mr.   Sp: 
of   Tilokaitj 


'in  that  he  had  come   with    a  charitable   design;  that 
demanded  of  the  chiefs  that  they   should   give   up  to 
h\  ail  the  Americans  who  were  now  ca])tives  ;  but  that 
ry  should   undersland  well    that   he  (lid   not  ])romiso 
I'll!  that  the  Americans  would  not  come  to  make   war; 
promised  them  only  that    lie    would   speak   in   their 
ror.     li'  they  would  release  the  cajitives  he  would  give 
Mil  fifty  blankets,  fifty  shirts,  ten  guns,  (en  fathoms   of 
pucco,  ten  handkerchiefs    and  one  hundred   Ijallti  and 
jivdei'. 
he  Young    Chief  thaidced    Mr.    Ogden   for  the  good 
Jen,   the    BislB-i^.o  l,,^.  |im|  given  (hem  and  ai)proved  of  what  he  had 
lid  the    asseiDWin;  oi,ij,ts,  who  constuntly  ciiny  u  cnioilix  on  their  tirfact,  were  iircsent. 


CG 


tup:  AVHITMAN   MAfSSACRE, 


na 


pr  ti 


said,  but  in  rou-avd  to  the  captives  he  said  tluit  ii 
belonged  to  Tilokalkt  to  speak  as  they  were  on  hi« 
hinds. 

Tllokaikt  then  spoke  of  tlu  larmony  that  had  al way- 
existed  between  them  and  the  Fi'ench  people;  tliat  tin 
French  had  esi)()used  their  daiiii'hters,  and  that  thev  Iuk 
been  buried  in  the  same  burial  ground,  etc.  lie  conch: 
ded  by  saying  that  he  would  release  the  captives  to  Mr 
Ogden,  because  he  was  old,  and  his  hair  Avas  white,  aii'i 
that  he-  had  known  him  a  long  time,  but  that  on 
younger  than  Mr.  Ogdeu  could  not  have  had  them. 

The  Nez  Perces  (or  Sahaptin)  caino  after  the  Caj'usi' 
and  proiuisL'd    to    release    }>l\\    Spalding    and   all    o'ln   flia( 
American  captives  who  were  with  them. 

Mr.   Ogden    promised   them    twelve   blankets,   twdv 
shirts,  two  guns,  twelve   haiulkercbiefs,  five  fathoms 
tobacco,  two  hundred  balls  and  powder,  and  some  knivc 

The  Bishoi)  exi)ressed  to  the  Cavuses  and  Nez    IV'i-ti 

i  I  t'  as      ■     - 

the  pleasure  he  felt  in  seeing  them  willing  to  release  th  Jtf  all 
ca))tives. 

They  agreed  upon  the  time  when  the  captives  shot; 
be  at  the  Fort,  and  the  quantity  of  provisions  necessun 

The  Catholic  L(t(ldei\  which  Dr.  Whitman  had  staim 
with  blood,  was  given  to  Mr.  Ogden  by  an  Indian  wl 
had  it  in  his  |)ossession.  ^Fr.  Ogden  receiv^ed  also  at  li 
request  from  another  one  the  ridiculous  ladder''  whit 
Ml'.  Spalding  had  been  carrying  amongst  the  Indian 
in  opposition  to  the  priests. 

On  the  2l)th  the  captives  of  Wallatpu  ari'rived  at 
Fort  to  the  nutnl>er  o{  forty-six,  who  together  with  ti' 
already  at  the  Fort  made  tifty-one. 

The  liishoj)  determined  to  avail   himself  of  the  offia    

of  Mr.  0<>-den,  and  to  descend  in  the  boats  that  were  8  ,  ^'^ 
convey  the  captives.  r  ,. 

January  1st,  1841^^,  ]\[r.   Spalding  arrived  at  the    l''||Tlu 


|g  dai 

The" 

])rie 

the 

e  iKii- 

»»ii  ah', 

^%7.  l\-i 


*A  picture  roiirt-sentins  two  ronds  towanlfi   heaven — a   wiilc  nnc,    wli: 


the  l^ojtc  i.s  jiclliiiif  iniluit;cnci's  and  forijivent 


i<ins,   ami  the    Cat 


wero  seen  ftomj?,  and  at.  the  iiiijier  end  of  wlii.di  they  were  all  fallins;  liei 
foremost  into  hell,  antl  a  narrow  one  where  the    Protestants  were  supii 
to  go,  but  ajiparently  so  dillieult  to  useend  that  none    were   seen    aseen 
it.     .Mr.  S|ialdinyj  hid  been  curry inj^  it  among  the  Indiuns,  and  cxpiaini 
it  to  theiu  I'.ir  .some  time. 


THE    WHITMAN    MASSACRE. 


67 


■<aid    that  i! 
were  on  lii; 

t  had  ahvay- 
)lo;  that  tin 
that  they  luw 
lie  concli: 
ptives  to  .^h' 
IS  white,  a  IK 
but  tliat  on- 
id  them, 
r  the  ('ayuso' 
uid   all    otlu: 

uUets,  twflv 
-e  futlioms  I 
I  some  Univi! 
a  Nez    l*ei'i% 


livith  his  family  and  the  other  captives.   accom])anied   by 
titty  Xez  Peret's. 

I    J)iiriii<.;  the  time  which  had  ])assed  fi'om  the  assemhlinir 

the  cliiefs  to  the  arrival  of  the  captives   at  the    l^'ort, 

Iv.  Oi^den    had  not    hei'n   witiiout   in(piietu(h\      Divers 

iiiuors  were  in  cii'cnlation  among  the    Indians.      It   was 

aid  that  an  army  had  arrived  at  the  Dalles,   and   they 

ad  come  to  aveng-o  the  murilers.     It  was   feared   that 

hesc  rnmors  might   change   the   minds  of  the    Indians, 

lid  cause  them    to    retain    the    captives.     The    Indians 

ame  from  time  to  time  to  ask   it  it  was  true  that   the 

inericaiis  were  at  the    Dalles.     Mr.   Ogdeii    told   them 

lat  he  Uiiew  nothing  altotit  il,  hut  that  he  did  not  helicvo 

indeed,  it    was    ditHcult    to    lielieve    the    Americans 

rould  decide  to  come  up  so  soon,  knowing  that  Mr.    Og- 

011  was  in  the  midst  of  the  Indians,  occupied  in  treating 

v  the  ileliverance  of  the  cai)tives,  for  it    was   easy   to 

ipliose  that  the  first  news  of  such  a  step   woidd   break 

to  release  tli  Irt'  all  negotiations  and  probably  become  the   signal  tor 

le  general  massacre  of  all  tlnjsc  unfortunate  beings.     It 

aptives   shoul  '   as  certainly   the    conviction    of  Mr,    Sjialding.    as    ex- 

,ons  neeessiu)    rossed  in  his  letter  to  the  Bishop,  as  well  as  that  of  all 

m  luul  staim  ■  le  whites  at  Walla  Walla. 

11  Indian  wl  |  As  soon  as  Mr.  Spalding  had  arrived,  JMr.  Ogdcn  de- 
ed also  at  1)  i  ded  that  the  departure  should  take  jilace  on  the  follow- 
laihlef''-   whiH  igday. 

st  the  Indiiul   The  morning  of  the  2nd  the  Bishop  conferred  the  order 
.^  '  priesthood  ujion  two  clei-gymen   of  the  congregation 
•,.^A  of  ifm  the  Oblates.  both  destined  for  the  Vakima  Indians  on 

^1  ^..  „-;tli  ti'ii'^'  nortli  suie  ot  the  Coltimlna,  where   tliey   liad  a   mis- 
tner  wini  ii  m  i       ^  !•      .i  •    •         i?  ^\     . 

mn)  already  commenced,  ami  not  lor  tlie  mission  or  tho 

, Jvez  I'erces,  as  Mr.  Spalding  has  said.     At  seven  o'clock 

e  cei'cmony  was  over,  but  in  s|)ite   of  all  the   diligenco 

1  activity  of  Mr.   Ogden.   they   were   unable  to   start" 

fore  half-past  twelve. 

riie  boats  had  oidy  left  the  Fort  a  few  hours   with   all 

'  <ai)tives.  when  titty  armed  Cayuse  warriors  arrived, 

ihe  purpose,  as  they  said,  of  taking  and  killing   Mr. 

aiding,  as  they  had  ascertained  that  American  soldiers 

d  arrived  at  the  Dalles  on  their  Journey  up. 

)n  ari'iving  at  IIk-  Dalles,   Mr.   Spalding   ])roved   that 

'    Indians    had  judged   him   pi-etty   correctly, — when, 


,v 


of  the  ortV: 
that  were 

'd  at  the   F< 


u    AvMc   KllC,    ^vlli 

mil  tliL-   Ciiti 
.(■rc  all  fiiHinu'  lie| 
iiiils  wvre  .<u|'ii 
,ot(.'  seen   ii-^ceii'l 
ians,  ami  cxvli'"! 


Ill 


68 


THE  WHITMAN   .MASSACRE. 


upon  hearii)<jj  his  letter  read,  tliey  said  :  '•  He  spejiKs 
well,  but  it  is  because  he  is  in  a  /lolc!" — t'oc  scarcely  luul 
he  put  his  feet  on  shore  when  he  said  to  Major  Leo: 
''  Hasten  up  with  your  coinpany  in  order  to  surprise  the 
Indians  and  save  the  animals  of  the  n)issi(>n  "  These 
w'ords  were  immediately  re))orted  to  the  Bishop  In'  Mv. 
Oijjden,  who  heard  them  himself.  He  said  still  more  to 
Major  Maujone ;  for  ho  desii;-nated  all  the  Caynses  as 
worlhy  of  death,  with  the  feeble  exception  of  tive  or  six. 
whoso  n  a  UK'S  he  i^ave. 

At  noon  on  the  Sth  the  boats  arrived  at  Fort  A'aii- 
couver. 

On  the  l(»th  ^[r.  ()i!;den  was  aii,ain  rn  rnutc  ti>  coiidiif! 
the  captives  to  Oi'eo-on  City,  where  he  delivered  them 
into  the  hands  of  Gov.  Abei*i\ethy;  to  whom  he  deliv- 
ered also  a  written  account  of  what  he  had  done  for  the 
deliverance  of  the  caj>tives,  tou'dher  with  Mr.  Spaldinu's 
letter  to  tite  Bishop,  the  manifesto  of  the  Cayuse  chiefs. 
and  the  Bisho])'s  letter  to  the  Governor  that  accomjiu 
ni«d  said  manifesto.  And  as  the  editors  of  the  Orcijiyw 
Spectator  wished  to  publish  but  a  ])art  of  Mr.  S|)aldini;'s 
letter,  Mr.  0<j^'den  told  them  that  they  should  ])rint  the 
whole  of  the  letter  or  no  part  of  what  he  had  i^ivcn 
them  for  that  purpose;  they  consenied  rehu-tantly  to 
publish  the  whole. 

On  the  15th  the  Bishop  was  at  St.  Paul's  Mission 
Willamette. 

After  the  departure  of  the  Bishop  I  had  remaincii 
alone  with  Mr  .Leclaire  at  the  mission  on  the  Umalilhi 
where  we  continued  to  reside  until  the  20th  of  Febrii 
ar}',  in  continual  anxiety,  between  the  fear  of  war  anJ 
the  hoj)e  of  i>eace.  Indian  rej>orts  of  all  kinds  were  ii 
circidation  every  day,  sayini^  tluit  thoi'e  wei'c  troop 
already  at  the  Dalles,  that  they  had  foui2;ht  with  the  In 
dians  of  that  country,  and  that  Ihey  had  destroyed  on 
tire  villai^es.  On  the  other  hand,  prudence  and  the  in 
terest  of  the  colony  seenunl  to  us  to  demand  that  t!i 
Governor  should  not  disre<;'ai'd  the  ])ro]>ositions  of  ii 
Indians,  but  that  he  should  enter  into  neiijotititions  ^ 
peace  Avith  them.  A  letter  from  Mr.  O^-clen  won  Id  h:iv 
removed  our  uncertainty;  for,  on  the  delivery  oft! 
captives,  he  promised  the  Indians  that  he  would  cxci 


f  liiniso 

i  cans, 

fwlietl 

|exjire 

jMdt. 

|siispe( 

|liy  ac( 

linont 

jai-rive 

|on<i;a_<j; 

luj)Mn  t 

I  1"  ' 
Iwitlidi 
\  rouson 
\  tills  ro 
•  tlioin  { 
hhat  I 
il  was 
How 
I  iiii^  ^o 
' oonsjdc 
fVoni  tl 
|l<M'e  ni 
Itsrif  f 
t\)rt  \) 
ilarch. 

liiirned 

loft  am 
On  t 

<>  trea 
J^oond  I 

liiniiy. 

mission 
The 

iO     l,")l 

KtlrOl'S    J 

tuMish 
tiilil  ni 


I 


THE  WHITMAN  MASSACRE. 


69 


liin^self  ill  tlu'ii*  behalf  to  seciiro  peace  with  the  Ainei'i- 
i  cans,  and  that  as  soon  as  the  Ciovermneiit  hud  decided, 
'■whether  for  peace  or  for  war.  lie  would  si'iid  them  an 
|expre>s  to  Fort  Walla  Walla  to  a]»])rise  theni  of  the  re- 
Utilt.  But  this  express  came  not.  The  Indians  h('n;aii  to 
isiispret  that  yir.  (Ju^den  had  betrayed  them.  Jlis  letter, 
:hv  accident,  did  not  arrive  until  after  the  tir.st  en^-agc- 
liueiit  between  the  troops  and  the  Cayuses  Had  it 
larrived  in  time,  it  would  [»robably  have  j)revented  the 
Jeii^a;i;emeiit  and  induced  the  Cayuses  to  accept  peace 
Fort  \i\n-    I^M'""  ^''^  terms  oti'ered  by  the  (ioveriinient. 

;i     in   tiie   midst  of  so   much   uncertainty   we  desired   to 
Iwithdraw  from  among  the  Cayuses,  but  to  do  this  a  good 
Iroason  was  necessary  that  could  satisfy  the  Indians,  and 
it  his  I'eason  we  had  not.     I  had  promi>ed  to  remain  with 
Itliein  as  long  as  they  were  at  peace,  but  had   told   tliem 
It  hat  r  should  retire  as  soon  as   war  should   be  declared. 
Il  was  obliged  to  keep  my  word  with   them. 
I     However.  (M1  the  l!>th  of  l"\d)ruary,  the  Cayuses  hav- 
|iiig  gone  to  meet  the  American  trctops.  we  had  a  right  to 
Iconsider  war  as  inevitable,  if  not  ali'cady  declared  ;  and 
slVoni  this  moment  my  word  was  disengaged.      We  there- 
ilnre  made  choice  of  the  tirst  opi)ortunity  that   pi-esented 
tsclf  tor  retiritig,  and  on  the  ne.xl  day  we  (b'])arte(l   for 
Port  Walla  Walla,  where  we  remaiiie<l  ur.til   the   ]'.\\\\  of 
jlMarch      A   tew    days  after  our  departure   the    Cayusi'.s 
|>in'ned  our  house    and  destroyed  the  propej'iy   w?   had 
ett  anioiig  them. 
On  the  l')th   ot   .March,   the  Commissioners   appoint imI 
treat  for  peace   with  the   Indians,  being  about   to  de. 
-(•end  t(»   Willamette,  we  availed  'ourselves  of  tlio  oppoi*- 
iiniiy,  and  descended   widi   them,  accompanied   by    the 
[iiissioiiary  Oblates  of  Yakima  river. 

The  Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs  having  issued,  on 

he   Lull  (d' .luiie.  an  order  to  stop  all   tie   missionary 

iihors  among   the   Indians,  we   made  no  effort   to  re  es- 

iililish  our  mission  among  the  Cayuses,   l)ut  deferred   it 

iitil  more  liivorable  circumstances. 


le  speaks 
arcelv  had 
lajor  Lee; 
irprise  the 
1  "  These 
op  l)y  M I'- 
ll more  to 
!,'ayuses  as 
five  or  six. 


to  condiift 
vered  them 
in   he  deliv- 
one  for  tlio 
r,  Spaldiiiii's 
viise  cliiet's. 
it   accomiia- 
'  the   Oreii'iii 
I'.  Spalding's 
d   ]>rint   tlie 
bail   given 
luctantly  to 

I's    Mission 


(I    reinaine 

liie  Umatill;i 

h   of  Febi' 

of  war  and 
lids  were  in 
were  troop 
A-itli  the  111 
lestroyed  e 

and  the   i 
[iiid  that  tlif 
litions   of  t 

•■otiations  i 
would  iu\vt  J 

ivery  of  tliy 

would  ex  or 


70 


THE  WHITMAN  MASSACRE. 


CHAPTER  Y. 

Sumynary  of  the  principal  arrusfifiofts  made  against  th 
Ciitkolic  Clenjij  of  Walla  Walht,  by  Mr.  Spalding  ami 
others,  rvith  an  ansirer  to  each  of  them. 


^Iv.  Sj)iil(ling  stated  in  the  Oregon  American  and  else. 
where  : 

1st.  That  the  massaei-e  of  \VaiUit[)U  had  been  eoin- 
mittod  by  the  Indians  in  hatred  of  the  heretics,  a.s  I'lo. 
testants  only,  and  no  Catholics,  were  killed,  and  insinii;i. 
ted  that  it  had  been  coniniitted  at  the  instiijiation  of  iht 
jjriests. 

2nd.  That  the  priests  ba))tised  the  children  and  faiii 
ilies  of  the  niurdeivrs,  and  the  murderers  themselves  im. 
mediately  attei'  the  nuissaci'e,  as  they  had  their  hand- 
titill  drii)])ini;-  with  the  warm  blood  of  the  murdered,  and 
fio  approved  the  massacre. 

iWd.  That  the  Bishop  and  the  ]>riests  were  iroinii;  uni 
coming  throun'h  the  country,  and  resided  among  the  miir 
derers  unmolested  and  api)earing  to  feel  in  safely,  aiiJ 
gave  it  as  a  new  proof  that  they  had  had  a  hand  in  iL' 
massacre. 

4th.  That   soon   after  the    massacre  the    priests    won 
making  prepai'ations  to  begin  new  sta'ions,  and  topuisiit 
with  renewed  ettbrts  those  .alrea<ly  begun;  and  that  tluj 
liad  settled  at  Wailatpu  immediately    after  the  depart m 
of  the  captives. 

r)th  That  neither  the  Bishop  noi'  any  of  his  ])riisi 
went  near  the  cajitives'of  AVailatpu  after  the  baptism  i 
the  murderers,  and  they  concluded  they  hud  no  compa- 
Bion  nor  charity  tor  them. 

()th.  That    the  Hotnan    Catholic  priemts    hud  offered  t 
great    price  to  Dr.  Whitman    for  his  station,  but  he    iv 
fused  to    sell  it:  they  had  told  him    again  to  fi.x  his  j)i'ic 
and  they  would  pay  it.  but  he  had  refused  obstinately  i 
BcU;  and  they    concluded  the  priests    were  determined  t 
have  it  by  any  means. — (Mr.  John  Klnzay,  in  the  O/vv/i 
American.) 

7lh.  That  some  of  the  ])riests,  who  were  at  Wall; 
WuUa,   did  not  offer  their  beds  to   Mr.  Osborne's    will 


i'liiiic 

lie  0/ 
i  14tli. 


Kill 


THE  WHITMAN  MASSACRE. 


n 


,vhilo  8he  was  sick  ;  that  they  gave  neither  blankets  nor 
00(1  to  yiv.    Osborne  when  he  started  for  the  purpose  of 
ooUins^  up  his  family,  and  that  they  did  not  prevent  him 
anainst   thWfvom  starting  with  his  family  for  the  river  (Umatilla). — 
xmldlnq  o«(l  MMi'-  Osborne,  in  the  Oregon  American.) 
^  *  8th.  Tliat  the  Bishop  of  Walla  Walla  had  come  with 

lis  priests  into  a  country  where  there  was  no  church  or 
"liilholic  station,  and   no  stationary  priest,  but  that  was 

ntirely  occupied  by  Protewtant  missionaries,  the  most 

('  whom  had  worked  there  peaceably  for  eleven  years. — 

Mr.  Sj)ulding) 

'.ilh.  That  Jo.  Lewis,  Joseph  Staniield,  and  Nicholas- 
i'^inlay,  who  had  been  seen  ])lundering,  were  Catholics, 
|iii(l  from  that  concluded  against  Catholics  in  general. — 
^[v.  Spalding.) 

I  10th.  That  the  priests  neglected  to  have  the  bodies  of 
.|he  victims  of  the  massacre  buried,  when  they  had  the 
tiicilities  of  doing  so. — (Verbal  reports,  attributed  lo  Mr. 
'*p!il(ling.) 
I  lllh.  That  the  Bishop  neglected  to  give  to  Mr.  Si 


in  and  olso- 

been  com. 
(tics,  as  J'ro- 
and  insiniiu- 
i'lvtion  of  til' 

on  and   t';uii 

cmselves  iiu- 

their  haml- 

urdcred,  aini 


«rc  going  aiK 
ong  the  mur 
n  sateiy.  tuiJ 
L  hand  'in  tli' 

]n'iosts    wtM'i 

;iud    tOpUlSIU 

an( 


Ipald- 

lu-  sonic   information    which    he   asked  in  regard  to  his 

aiigliter  and  the  other  captives. — (Mr  Spalding.) 

I'Jth.  That  a  young  American  was  killed  at  Wailatpu 

[l  -  o'flock    p.  M.,  on  Tuesday,  just  about  the  time  the 

jriest  arrived,  and  insinuated  that  the  priest  caused  him 

lo  be  killed. — (Mr.  Spalding.) 


Ithatthi'v  1  13th.  That  the  priests  concerted   at  Wailatpu    with 
i'l'e  (lenartni'i  i^'"-   -M'l>can's    messengers   the    letter    which     he    (Mr 


T 

i)f  his  pric; 
|he  baptisn 
[d  no  comj)!!^ 


\  ii 


Bean)  sent  to  Fort  A''ancouver  in  order  to  deceive  the 

iblie  about  the  true  causes  of  the  murder. — (Editor  of 

Jio  Orcijon  American. 

Utii.  Tliat  the  Catholic  missionaries  despised  the  au- 

lority  of  the   Covernor  and   of  the  Indian  Agent,  who 


ad  offere 


I  ;  lad  commanded   them  to-  leave  the  Indian    country 


but  he    i\  #^'''f<"'  t>'  ^''<^  Oregon  American.) 
'ii\  his  prii  1  l'^'''-  That  one  of  the  priests  had  been   met  by  Mr. 
[)bstina'elv  I  li'^^''^'"M"  '*'  company  with  an  Indian  who  had  the  avow- 
Id  'terminetlt  w  '"l^^'ition  to  kill  liim,  and  that  the  Indian,  whose  pla- 
in the  Orciji- 


ore  at    Wali; 
Iborne's    will 


was  unloaded,  retired  to  an  unobserved  ]>laceto  reload 
;  and  insinuated   that  the  intention  of  that  priest  was 

have  had  him  killed  by  that  Indian. — (Mr.  Spalding.) 
lOlh.  And,  finally,  that  the  priests  had  told  the  Indians 


fT 


72 


THE  WHITMAN  MASSACRE. 


!     t!' 


'  overy  where  that  the  Protestant  missionaries  were  cauf 
ing  them  to  die,  and  the  Walla  Walla  chief  in  particii 
lar;that  they  were  poisoning  them;  that  it  was  tlit 
■Americans  who  had  brought  the  measles  among  tlicm 
and  that  Crod  had  sent  that  sickness  among  them  to  shot 
His  hatred  against  the  heretics;  and  they  ])()inte(l  to  tlia: 
lis  the  source  from  which  originated  the  indirect  cause 
■rof  the  massacre. — (Mr.  Spalding.) 

I  will  now   proceed  to  rectify  those  statements  an 
give  a  short  answer  to  each  of  them  : 

1st.  The  massaci-e  of  Wailatpu  has  not  been   comiiii; 
ted  by  the  Indians  in  hati-ed  of  the   heriiics.     If  Anicr 
cans  oidy  have  been  killed,  it  is   because  the   war  Im 
been  declared  by  the  Indians  against  the  Americans  onlv 
and  not  against   foi'cigners ,  it    was    therefore    in    tin-' 
quality  of  American  citizens  and  not  as  Protestants  tin 
the  Indians  killed   them:  as    a  proof  of  this  I  state  tl 
fact  that  two  sons  of  Mr.  Manson,  a  Protestant  gentleiiia 
of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,   who,  being  Pi-otest;iii: 
as   well   as    their  father,  were  selected    by   the   India! 
from  the  American    children    and    sent    to    Fort    Wai 
Walla — and  as  a  second  proof  I  will  observe  that  tl 
Indians  who  perpetrated  the  massacre  wei-e  all    Protcr 
ants,  and   after  the    massacre   remained  Protestants; 
before,  and  continued   to    pray    after  the    method  tli^ 
their  Protestant  missionaries  had  taught  them,  as  )I 
Spalding  himself  affirms.* 

2nd.  We  never  baj)tised  any  of  the  murderers  ii 
their  families  ;  such  an  assertion  has  been  a  shanui 
'slander  bi-ought  upon  us  like  many  others.  Tiio  on 
thing  tlone  in  the  matter  of  baptism  connected  ^vi: 
that  circumstiince  is  what  follows  : — As  stated  in  myr 
lation  of  the  affair  to  Col.  Gilliam,  I  hul  gone  to  Til 
kaikt's  camp,  without  being  aware  of  what  had  pasv 
in  its  vicinity,  for  the  |)ur|)Ose  of  baptising  the  sick  cli 
dren  and  the  dying  adults  whom  I  could  dispose  t 
baptism.  On  the  morning  I  was  there,  when  ixlmi 
starting  to  pa}'  a  visit  to  the  widows  and  orphans  of  t'; 
mission,  and  to  bury  the  corpses,   1  inquired   after 

*Fivc  of  those  who  wove  hung  at  Oregon   City  on   the  '.Id  of  June,  1' | 
cinliraced  then  the  Catljulic  faith  and  were  haptiseil  l)y  the  Archbi,sh(i]i, 
N.  lihirieliet,  a  few  hours  before  their  cxeeution. 


THE  WHITMAN  MASSACRE. 


78 


(inteil  to  tliii 
tlircet  can* 

tcmcnts  M. 

(ccn   com  in; 
^,     If  AnuT 
the   war  lia 
icvicans  oiilj 
Core   in    iIk 
3tcstants  till 
is  I  state  tl 
mt  <i;cntloiiia 
(r  Protoslair. 
^  the   Iixliii! 
,    Fort    Will: 
3rvc  tluit  tt 

•e  all   Pi-'>^^^ 
^rotestants  i 

method  tk 

them,  as  31 


i  were  cau!  ■ndians  who  were  daiigerously  sick  and  cxpceted  to  die. 

in   particii     S'oiio  wei'C  found  in  the  camp  but  three  3oun^  children. 

it  was  tilt     vhom  I  baptised,  and  two  of  tlicm  died  soon  after;  two 

imon<''  tliem     )t'  the  three  were  slaves,  and  I  did   not  learn   to   whom 

hem  to  slio?  ]  he  other  child  beloniijjed.     Nothing  more  was  done. 

Now,  no  sensible  person  could  susjiect  that  I  intended 

0  a])provc   of  the   murderous  deed    by   baj)tisin(r  those 

jiiklren,  if  they    only    knew    what    tlie  principles    and 

ractice  of  the  Catholic  Church  are  in  regard  to  baptism 

f  infants.     The  Church  teaches  that  bajjtism  is  of  abso- 

iitc  necessity  to  the  salvation   of  infants  as  well   as  of 

dults,    and    not    holding   children    responsible    for    the 

ludts   of  their  parents   or    others,    she   con)mands  her 

iiinistcrs  always  to  baptise  them,  whatever  may  be  the 

ircumstances,   in  any    case  of  necessit}'  or    danger  of 

oath.     Besides,  those  children  were   not  offered   to   me 

v  ba|)tism  by  their  fathers  with  their  hands  dripping 

ilh  blood,  and  asking  for  an  approval  of  their  deed, 

s  lias  been  said  ;  but  it  was  upon  uiy  own  request,  and 

peatedly  made,  that  their  owners  (two  of  them  were 

aves  from  other  tribes)  reluctantly  consented  to   allow 

leni  to  be  baptised. 

od.  The  goings  and  comings  of  the  clergy  through 
ic  country  never  existed  but  in  the    warm   imagination 
Mr.  Spalding;  and  instead  of  that  security  which  he 
pposed  we  felt,  some  of  us    trembled  from    fear  very 
equently.     It  was  three  weeks  after  the  massacro  that, 
the  urgent  request  of  Mr.  Ogden,  one  of  us  dared  for 
e  first  time,  since  the  burial  of  the  murdered  victims, 
leave  the  camp  of  the  Young  Chief  and  go  to   Walla 
'alia;  and  then,  being  the  day  that  followed  the  coun- 
of  the  Cnyuses  at  the  Catholic   mission,   the  Indians 
)])oared  more  quieted  than  before  by  the  hope  of  peace, 
lich  the  letter  of  Mr.  Spalding  and  the  words  of  the 
iisliop  had  ])roduced  in  their  minds;  and  moreover  they 
(I  i)romised  to   stop   any  further  hostilities  until  the 
tciitions  of  the  Government  were  known  ;  and  besides, 
at  Priest  was  accompanied  by  one   of  the  chiefs,  who 
iild  have  protected  him  against  any  of  the  young  men 
lio  had  bad  intentions.     Before  that  time  we  had  con- 
lorod  it  unsafe  for  us  to  go  at  an}-  distance  from  the 
be  Archbisiioii,|   ^^^^^^  Chiefs  camp,  on  account  of  the  evil   dispositions 


nrdcrcrs  ii 
a  shaiiu'i 
s.  Tlio  01, 
1 nee ted  wr 
led  in  myt 
oue  to  Ti' 
t  had   pii'^" 

the  sick  cli 
d  dispose  t 

wlien  altii 
rphans  ol'  t 
red   after  t: 

:id  of  June,  1~ 


74 


TIIK  WHITMAN   MASSACRE. 


of  a  portion  of  the  murderers,  towards  as  since  Mi 
S|)aldinjij;'8  escape,  as  some  of  tlienj  could  not  forgive  ii 
for  having  taken  their  intended  victim  from  their  hamJi 
and  as  a  letter  from  WalUi  Walla  had  warned  us  to  \> 
on  our  guard  on  that  account. 

It  is  an  error  to  say  that  the  priests  remained  amoii; 
the  murderers.  This  they  never  did.  The  Cayuse  iij 
tioii  was  divided  into  three  (in-jn[)s  entirely  distinct  froc 
each  other,  each  camp  having  its  own  chief,  who  gdi 
erned  his  young  men  as  he  pleased  ;  each  of  tlie  chid 
were  iiide])ondent  of  the  others,  and  those  three  C!im|i 
formed,  as  it  were,  three  independent  stales  ui'  a  sina 
federal  republic,  each  of  them  administering  their  ow 
private  att'airs  as  they  pleased,  Avithout  interierence  froii 
the  others.  They  were  the  cam])s  of  Tilokailct,  (Jama' 
pelo.  and  Young  Chief  and  Five  Crows  together.  JJut: 
was  ill  Tilolcaikt's  camp,  and  hy  his  Indians  only,  tin 
Doctor  Whitman  had  been  killed:  then  the  Indians 
that  camp  only  could  be  called  murderers,  and  eveiik 
a  small  portion  of  them,  since  twelve  or  thirteen  onl 
have  been  designated  as  guilty  by  the  army  itself,  win 
on  the  spot.  Again,  we  never  remained  in  Tilokaikt 
camp,  but  at  a  distance  of  twenty-live  miles  from  it.; 
Young  Chief's  camp,  where  some  of  the  people  wo: 
Catholics,  and  where  nobody  had  taken  part  in  the  inii' 
der.  Then  it  is  evidently  incorrect  to  say  that  we  liiu 
remained  among  the  mnrderei's. 

It  is  also  incorrect  to  say  that  we  have  be  nmolostr 
by  the  Indians,  since  they  burned  our  hous  id  effects 
few  days  after  we  had  started  from  amc  ig  them,  iii 
about  the  time  the  troops  were  coming  up  to  tin 
country. 

4th.  It  is  asserted  that  soon  after  the  massacre  t; 
priests  were  making  [^reparations  to  begin  new  statioi 
and  to  pursue  with  renewed  efforts  those  already  bego: 
The  proof  of  which  undoubtedly  is  that  the  Bis 
started  down  to  the  Willamette  at  the  same  time  as  ]\ 
Spalding,  taking  with  him  the  Superior  of  the  OblaijB'i'itiy 
Fatijers  and  another  clergyman,  and  leaving  me  aloiiei  ■•'•  Spa! 
the  Umatilla  mission  with  a  young  clergyman  who  wS*^  Cayi 
not  a  priest  yet;  and  that  shortly  after,  at  the  first  (»  ^^''^^'t 
portunity  they  could  get,  the  remainder  of  his  clor:^'^  i'cad 
were  following  his  example- 


.3  since  Mi 
t  tbrgivoii 
their  luvmii 
led  us  to  I' 

[lined  umon. 


THE  WHITMAN  MASSACRE.  7") 

It  is  a  ijjroat  falsoliood  in  Mr.  Spjildini;-  to  say  that  we 

ottled  at  Wailatpu    iinnu'diatelv  at'tc!"  the  departure    ot' 

he  eaptives.     For  (ho  proof  of  what  I  say   1  rotor  to  all 

lie]to<)j)lo  who  livt'd  in  the  vieinity  of  Waihitpu  and  to 

lie  ui-niy.     >Jono   of  i'     went  to  \Vaiiat})n    fronj  the  time 

I'  the  hnrial   of  those  who  were  mnnk'red  (h)wn  to  the 

^  r  ivuse  111  ''  iioiillisof  .Inno  and  .Inly,  when,  chirini;'  a  trij)  that  J  hap- 

1-  l:.w.f  tVa,   '  )ened  to  niaUo  to  Walhi  Walla,  1  had  tlio  i)leasiireof  |)av'- 
distmc't  lioi  i'  •  •.    .      n        ,,.  ,  ,1  \  1/     ,    ,.-       "^ 

i'  ,.,i,r.  .far     iiiiuvisit  to  tlio  otlu'ersoi  tlie  arin\'  at  bort   Waters, 

of  the  chk'!     onnerly  ^V  adatpu. 

,.         ^,.^,^^.        ;)th.  No    priest  wont  to   AVailatpu  since  the  day  of  the 
V  o  Li.v      Huial ;  that  is  true.     J3nt   what  was   the  reason  of  their 

»S     01    a  ^I'W  i         •         V       riM  ii      .  i        i-      M 

their  ()\v  Jot  i;'ouig  .'^     1  no    reason    was   that   on    account  ot    Mr. 

V      .w  .  iVai-  liitaldiii<>;'s    escape    thev  could    not   s-'o  without  oxijosini; 

rioronci' lioii  «i         p  i       i    fi     i     ,i  Ti        i     i    i  iv  * 

•1  4    r'.inin  ■lemsclves  to  a  prol)al)lo  deatli,   as  they  liad    boon  otton 

,     ,      jjiit;  M'*^'""^'      -^  indians,   and   also  by  a  letter  ironi  vV  alia 

'  I      jlij«Valla;  and  it  is  a  new  j>'oof  that  the  jiriests  did  not  foel 
■  '       ■■)  safe  anionic  the    nuuHhi'crs  as  Mr.    Spaldiui;' supposed 
'loy  did.     But  if  they  did  not  go,  they  did  all  they  could 
oni  their  mission  to  pi'ovent  new  i    isfortuncs  from  fall- 
i;:;  u]>on  thorn  and  to  ameliorate  ther   situation.  As  soon 
.•*  the  Bishop  had  received  the  news  of  the  massacre,  he 
lul  called  the  chiefs  of  the  camp    where  he  lived   arid 
I'coninicndetl  to    their  care  the    sui'vivors  of  Wailatpu  ; 
d  alter  that  time   the  captives  had    always   abundant 
1(1  good    food,  and  if  they    had   sometimes  to   sutler  in 
me  other  respects,  the  Bishop  never  ceased  to  exert  his 
nmolostr  »t1uence  and  entreaties  with  some  of  the  chiefs  to  ]tut  a 
1  ^,^^,^.[i  1"P  to  it.     He  took  a  g-reat  part  in  quiotino;  the  Indians, 
u-   them  ;u  J'^'^'*^'.^' P''*^P'^''^'*^  ^''^''"^   for  the  delivery  of  the  cajHivos, 
"n  to    tlif  ff*^' ''^"^^'^'b' ^^'"*^P^''"^ted  with  Mr.  Ogdon  in  securing  the 

^onviwW^^th.  In  the  sui)i)osition   that  we  had    asked  I3r.  Whit- 

h  massacre  u'^  i  •'       .   i  i-  i         ^    -^         i  i  i  i 

[       .„>  of.itini  ■!t"  to  sell    us  his  establishment,    it  would  have  proved 

In  new  f'tati'Ji  ■  ,  .  ,  u     ,         .^       '         i  i-  i      i  ^i    *. 

1  '^'idv  bc'ii' w^    "f5   against  us,  because  it  w'as  ])ublicly    known  that 

i    t he    Bisiv  W  l>iul  boon  for  years  speakiuii-   of  leaving  the  Cayuse 

^untry ;  "that  ho   had    hold   himself  ready  to  leave  the 

^^,,i.,  Juntry  whenever  the    Indians  as  a   body  wished  it,"  as 

I     ...^  oiono^'"-  Spalding  says;  "that  twice  in  the  last  year  he  called 

'  Tiau  who  \vi»^  Cay  uses  together  and  told  them  it  a  majority  wished 

I  t  tlio  first  ow  would  leave  the  country  at  once ;"  "that  he  hold  him- 

f  his   cloi'i:  w^  ready   to  sell   the  Wailatpu  station  to  the  Catholic 


he   Indians 

,  and  eveiibt 

thirteen    onl 

ly  itself,  will' 

in  Tilokaiki 

les  from  it.. 

people    we; 

rt  in  the  niii: 

that  we  lui' 


be  time  as  i 

of  the  Ohla; 


1    ! 


w 


ill: 


76 


THE  WHITMAN  MA.SSACUE. 


luisHioii  whenever  a  inujority  of  the  f/ayuHOH  ini^ht  wisli 
itj"  titid  that ''he  had  l)()iif^ht  the  Alethodist  mission  nt 
the  Dalles,  where  he  wished  to  p^o  and  live  in  the  spring,'. 
Under  sneh  circumstances  it  would  not  have  been  uiiiiu 
tural  to  hdieve  that  he  would  have  liked  to  dispose  ot'liis 
property  the  same  as  any  other  Individual. 

But  I  affirm  that  such  a  demand  has  never  been  madt 
to  \)\\  Whitman  hy  any  one  of  us,  and  J  i^ive  Mr.  S[)al(l 
in^  himself  as  a  witness,  when  he  says:  ''that  he  is  iim 
aware  that  the  Catholic  mission  ever  ap]>lied  to  Dr.  VViiit. 
man  to  ])ui'chase  the  Wailatpu  station."  If  such  a  pro' 
position  had  ever  been  made  to  the  Doctoi',  it  was  na 
tural  that  he  would  have  spoken  of  it  to  Mr.  Spaldiiii; 
Ids  intimate  frien<J,  his  fellow-member  and  associate  ie 
missionary  labcn-s  during-  the  fifteen  da}  s  that  he  sptii! 
with  him  before  the  massacre. 

7th.  As  to  the  seventh  complaint  brou<rht  ai^aiiist  soim 
priests  who  were  present  at  Walla  Walla  whim  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Osborn  were  there,  the  followMn^  statement  /^ivi; 
by  Mr.  Stanley,  the  artist,  who  happened  to  hi  at  WalL 
Walla  at  the  time,  will  throw  some  lig-ht  upon  the  niiii 
ter : 

"During  my  stay  at  Walla  Walla  in  Deceniber  last, 
says  Mr.  Stanley,  "I  occupied  a  room  with  two  or  nion 
of  the  Catholic  priests;  and  their  beds  consisted  of  t« 
blankets  with  a  stick  of  wood  I'or  their  pillow. 

1  arrived  at  Walla  Walla  the  2nd  of  December,  an 
learned  from  Mr.  McBean  that  Mr.  Hall  brought  him  tli 
first  intelligence  of  the  massacre  early  in  the  morning' i 
theiJOthof  November — that  be  was  received  in  the  Fur 

in  Mr.   McBean's  private   or   family  room 1; 

was  undecided  whether  to  remain  or  proceed  to  Willaii 
ette ;  feared  he  would  be  killed  if  found  by  the  ('ayusu; 
and  after  consulting  Mr.  McBean  thought  he  could  pm 
the  Willamette  in  safety  on  the  north  side  of  the  rivf 
lie  was  furnished  with  a  cap))o,  blanket,  ])owder.  Id 
and  tobacco,  and  Mr.  McBean  saw  him  safely  across  tl 
river. 

Mr.  Osborn  and  little  son  arrived  a  few  hours  betm 
me,  and  were  received  and  quartered  in  the  Fort. 

Mr.  McBean  procured  for  him  a  trusty  W^alla  Wal. 
Indian  to  return  with  him  for  his  family,  but  having ii 


'/iors( 


Th 


r 

ad 
or  til 
)ey  W( 
It  foi 
lad  .i( 
:'aree 
I'iests, 
cessii 
>t  pro 
niatil 
safei 
I't,  w 
iliout 
ere  w 
St  I 
Wall 
cliun 
11  obsd 


THE  WHITMAN  MASSACRE. 


77 


mission  at 
the  spring 
i  been  uniia 
ispose  of  lii^ 

!•  1)0011  inaik 
0  Mr.  H\yM 
liat  ho  is  nn; 

toDr.  Whii. 
t'  such  a  \>vo. 
)!',  it  was  iia 
Ir.  SpaUiiiiii 

associate  in 
:hat  iio  spiii! 

aii^ainst  m\m 
\\uH\  Mr.  ani 
liomoiit  givi". 
o  Iv:  tit  VValli 
iipon  the  niiit 


Ihorsos  at  tlio  post,  I   protforod  the  uso   of  my  own  until 

lie  should  roach  tho  Company's  ♦arm.ahout  twonty  milos 

(listuiit,  v.'horo  ho  was   supj)lio(l  \nth  f'rosh  onos.     Had  it 

.not    boon  for  tho  guide's  ])orsovoranoo   Mrs.  Oshorn   and 

ii<liildron  must  havo  i)orishod.     Mr.  Oshoi-n,  <lospairin<^  of* 

t  11(11  ni^'  tho  place  Avlioro  ho  had  left  thorn,  proposed  to  the 
ndian  to  return.  Tho  Indian  said  ho  was  told  hy  Mr. 
iMcHoan  not  to  rotui'u  without  findin<j^  thorn,  and  ho  con- 
|iiiuod  his  search  until  he  disoovorod  their  concealment. 
J  They  arrived  at  tlie  Fort  early  in  the  evening-  of  tlio 
pd  of  i)ecomher,  and  Mr.  McBoan  said  he  would  protect 
jieni  with  his  life. 

They  wore  not  allowed  to  <;'o  thri'e  days  without  pro- 
nsions,  but  on  the  contrary  were  furnished  daily  with 
inch  jjrovisions  as  were  used  by  Mr.  Me  Bean  and  family. 
Mr.  McH"an  proft'ered  a  blanket  to  Mr.  Osborn  on  his 
redit,  and  I  am  quite  positive  tho  article  was  not  asked 
or  by  Mr.  Osborn. 

(Signed,)  J.  M.  Stanley. 

Oregon  City,  March  lOtli.  1848." 


The  priests  spoken  of  by  Mr.  Stanley  were  Oblates,  bo- 
iiging  to  the  mission  of  tho  north  side  of  the  Columbia, 
'or  tlioir  bods  at  the  Fort,  as  Mr.  Stanley  states,  they 
ad  but  two  blankets  with  a  piece  of  wood  for  a  pillow, 
or  their  subsistence  they  depended  upon  the  Fort,  whore 
icy  were  paying  their  board.  It  was  then  very  diffi- 
ilt  for  them  to  give  beds,  blankets,  or  food,  which  they 
ad  .iOt  at  their  disposal.  Besides,  provisions  wore  very 
od  in  the  Fur      arco   at  tho   time    in  the  Fort,  and   the  clerk  and    tho 

I 1     riests,  as  well   as  the  others,   wore  all  reduced  to   the 

•od  to  Willaii  cce^^nity  of  living  upon  horseflesh.  If  the  priests  did 
'  the  Cayust>  ^t  prevent  Mr.  Osborn  from  bringhig  his  family  to  the 
\e  could  r'>m  Jniatilla,  the  reason  was  that  the}'  believed  they  would 
safer  under  the  Young  Chief's  protection  than  at  the 
rt,  where  they  expected  every  moment  to  bo  attacked, 
itliout  being  prepared  to  oppose  a  sufficient  resistance: 
ere  wore  at  the  F"'ort  only  five  or  six  men  at  most. 
V  hours  bctoijsth.  In  regard  to  what  has  been  stated  that  the  Bishop 
Fort.  tf  AValla  Walla  had  come  into  a  country  where  there  was 

y  Walla  ^Val  A  church  or  Catholic  station,  and  no  stationary  priests,  I 
but  having  tj|U  observe  that  Fathers  Blanchet  and  Dcmcrs,  the  first 


comber  last, 
1  two  or  mor; 
isisted  of  t\v 

ovv. 

ecombor,  an 
L)ugl»t  him  til 
ho  morniiiii; 


0  of  the  rivi- 
powder,  ha! 
ily  across  tli 


0 


'  w 


■     '?*?S 


^1'  '? 


■^ 


,  I 


fjl 


jl 


li': 


til*  M 


m 


<»  TIIK  WHITMAN   MASSACRE. 

Catliolic  missioiiiu'ii'r,  that  came  to  ()i-ou;on,  bad  pass^i; 
hy  Waila  Walla  in  ISIJS.  where  they  had  stopjjed  a  toit 
days,  and  liad  heen  visited  b}'  the  Indians.  In  Is.l; 
Fatiier  Deniers  ba<l  spent  tliree  weeks  in  teaching-  tlit 
Indians  and  i>aptisini;-  their  ehihlren.  In  l!*^40  ho  hud 
made  there  a  mission  so  (Viiiti'ni  that  the  I'l-otcstant  ini«^ 


fhvoni 
?so  ahs 
hjrest'i; 
Ihis  dis 


': 


rown.  {1 
laffi 
Hionari<'s  had  <>;ot  ahirnie  1,  and  feared  that  all  tbeii"  dij^  '  or  hat 
ci])les  wonld  abainh)!!  tleni  if  be  continued  bis  mission-  j  prove 
amono;  them.  Father  Je  Smet,  after  visitin<i;  the  Khit  jliad  a! 
Heads  in  1S40.  had  eoiv.e  and  estahlisbeil  a  mission  amoii; 
them  in  1S41  •  aud  f-om  that  time  down  to  the  arrival  o: 
the  l>ishop.  the  Indians  of  NValla  Walla  and  of  the  l'|i 
per  ('oluml)iabad  never  failed  to  be  visited  yearly,  eitlit: 
by  Father  Demers  or  by  some  of  tlie  .lesnits.  and  tlin>: 
animal  ".xenrsions  had  jirocured  every  year  new  cbildH'i 
to  the  (Uuircb.  Almost  every  Indian  tribe  possess^ 
some  Catholic  member.  Amonjjj  the  Caynses  the  Yonin 
Chief  and  a  ]K)rtion  of  his  camp  were  professini;  Calli 
olicism,  and  tor  seven  years  jjrovions  were  asl<in«i;  In! 
some  priests  to  come  and  settle  arnonir  them.  The  Fl;i: 
Heads,  Kallispels,  and  Conor  do'  Alones,  possessed  eaelic  i)ibed  fi 
them  a  station  with  as  matiy  <duirchcs,  bnilt  an:  oi-dinij 
attended  l)y  the  Jesuits.  The  Bishop  of  Walla  WalL  'aised  e 
tiien,  whoso  jurisdiction  extended  over  the  whole  jiaf" ;  lie  tinn 
of  Oregon  contained  between  the  Cascades  and  tlr  fv'liatev< 
Ivocky  Mountains,  vas  far  from  coiV'ing  into  a  fieli 
totally  foreijjjn  to  bin  .  When  be  arrived  ho  found  nior 
flocks  and  })astors  th.in  the  American  Board  had  eve 
been  able  to  show  on  their  side. 

As  to  the  assertion   that  the   Protestant  missiomuir 
bad  worked  there  pcaceabl}-  tor  eleven  years,  we  ku«' 


Ihei 
tiiiei'ic: 
■(»m  an 
veyeai 
As  to 
ad  huei 


what  to  think  of  it  from  the  ditt'erent  statements  wliii  :  )r  twei 


we  have  seen  above. 

1Mb.  1  coidd  admit  that   .To.   Lewis,   Joseph    Stjudio! 
and  iS'icbolas  Finlay.  who  may  have  been  seen  plumlr 
ing,  were   Catholics,   without  injuring  in  the  least  tl 
ciiiiso  of  Catholicism ;    because,  as  in  good    roasornni;;   «io<l 
is  never  allowed  to  conclude  from    one  particidarity  '  fP;  and 
another  particularity  nor  to  a  geneudity;  in  like  in:i  yinncd 
nor,  from  the  guilt  of  three  Catholics  it  cannot  be  reaj|ore  enl 
onably  concluded  tiiat  other  Catholics  are  guilty,  nor  »t'ii,    an 
fortiori  that  all    Catholics   are   guilty   and    Cutbolicij'^iio;'' 


lie  chui 

my  p 

le  seve 

»t    prct 


■^^S^eWS^TffSSMS^ 


THE    WHITMAN    MASSACRE. 


70 


f'avoriible  to  the  ^uilt.     Mr.  Sptildinuj,  when  ho  advutiecd 
fio  al)siird  a  sophism,  diil  not   hoar  in    mind    that  in   tlie 
Ipresont  ease  it  coidd  ho  retorlod  against  him  ontiroly  to 
;|liis  disadvantajro.     lUit  I  prot'or  to  i^ivo  to  ovory  one  his 
lown.  and  to  keop  for  mysolf  only  what  is  mino. 
I     I  atfi    n    then,  that  Nicholas  Finhiy,  was   no  Catholic, 
%>v  had  i'ver  boon  one,  and  '  would  like  Mr.  Spaldinji;  to 
iprovo  the  contrary.      Finlay  nas  a  poor  lialt'-l)rood,  who 
Iliad  ahvas  lived  with  the  Indi ms.  and  after  their  man- 
ors, hahits,  ])rinciplos  and  su,HM'Stitions,  and    who    had 
^t  the  white  man  nothin;!^  l)iit  the  name.     Jle  had  never 
Ik'011     haptised,    had    never    froiinontod    any     Catholic 
lurch,    nor    received    Catholic    instruction    from    any 
priest.     On  the  contrary  ho  n-as  attached   to    Dr.   Whit- 
iniiii.  in  the  neii^hhoi'hood  o,'  whom  ho    <i;enerally  lived, 
11(1  he  ibllowod  his  instructions.     T  affirm,  in   like  man- 
lier, that  Jo.  Lewis  was  not  a  Catholic,  and  accoidinif  td 
^Ir.  Spahling  ho  must  have  been  a   Protestant;  becaiisrt 
10   voliijjion    of  i   man  is    not    the    consequence    of  Ids 
irth,  but  springs  from  the  jirinciplos   that   he    has   im- 
ibod  from  the  society  in  which  he  has  lived.      Well,  ac- 
*ordinij  to  Mr.  Spalding,    Jo.    Lewis    must   have    boon 
'uif^ed  eitho)'  in  the  State  of  Maine,  where  there  were  at 
lie  time  no  Catholic  churches,  ao  priests,  nor  any  means 
vhatever  of  roceiviiiu;  Catholic  instruction,  or  in  some 
tlioi"    ])art   of  the    United    States,    under   the    care   of 
found  nuir  Enioricatis,  (ijfcnei'ally  ])rotoslant8.)  who  had  taken  him 
ird    had  ovi  i'"tn  among  the  wild  Lidians  when  he  was  from  four  to 
jvo  yoai's  of  age. 
missionui'ii  |  As  to  Joseph  Stanfield,  I  admit  that  ho  was  born   and 
irs,  we 


lad   y)asse(i 
ipped  a  \'ov 
A.     In   ls:il 
oaching  tU 
S40  he   \w. 
testant  mi*  i 
ill  their  (li< 
his  mission.^ 
ng  the    Fiat 
ssion  ann)ii; 
he  arrival  n 
[l  of  the  I'l 
early,  oitlu; 
t8,  and  X\\(H 
uew  child u" 
1)0  possossi 
^^  the  Yoniii 
essing  Culli 
3   asking  in: 
1.     The   VW 
jessed  eacb. ': 
^,     built    tui: 
Walla  Wall 
1   whole   piir 
dos   and   tl 
into   a   M 


bmen 


Uno'  lad  boon  educated  a  Catholic.     But  ho  said  himsolf  that 

ts  wlm  §"■  twenty  yours  past  he  had  not  fro(iuonted   any  ('ath- 

[  ilic  church,  and  had  not  availed  himsolf  of  the  ministry 

i)h   Stanfu''  •  any  j)riest.     He  may,  during  that  time,  have  given  up 

keen  pluinl''  fio  scvoi'ity  of  Catholic  principles   and   morality.     I   do 

Ithe   least  il  i"t    j)retond  to  excuse  him  ;    nevertheless  ho  has  been 

reasonini;  wi^'d  by  competent  ti'ibunals  for  the  crime  ho  is  accusod 


Irticuhirity 


aiuf  I  do  not  know   that   he    has  as   3'et   been   c 


on- 


in 


hnno 


<ru 


like  iii:i  ymiiod  l)y  them.     Why  should   wo  pi-etond  now  to   be 
t  be  r< 


joi'o  onlightciiod  and    wi.ser  than  those  tribunals   have 
ilty.  n"V  joii.   and  judge    him    more    severely    than    they    havd 

'Catholiei^'fiK'r 


t 


::i 


86 


TIIK  WHITMAN  MASSACRE. 


lOtl).  It  is  also  u  slunder  to  say  that  tlio  priests  Iiave 
iicglooto«l  to  have  the  bodies  of  tliose  who  were  iiuir 
tiered  huried.  I  refer  to  all  the  captives  of  Wailat|iii 
who  saw  ine  fov  over  three  hours  actively  oeciij)ied  ii 
ehroudini*  the  coi"|>se8  and  pnttinj^  them  into  a  cotnmoii 
trrave  with  my  own  han(]s,  and  taking;  care  that  thcv 
should  l>ct-f>vorod  with  earth  before  I  lett.  and  that  t^v 
da3's  only  after  the  mas«aci'e. 

11th.    When  Mr.  Spaldini:;  complained  that  the  Bislmj 
had  ne_i;'le('ted  to  i^'ive  hint  tisc  intormation  aHl<c(l   iti  iv 
gai'd  to  his  dau<(hter  and  the  other  ca))tives,  he  had  toi 
gotten    that    Mr.  0<rden    wrote    to    him   in   lieu    of  th'^ 
Bishop  as  well   as  for  iiimself  when    hc^    announced  t 
him  that  lilxM-ty  was  f  . .     ;"ed.  for  him  and  for  the  other 
captives,    and    that    h      iitd   to  be    ready    to   leave   tl 
country  by  a  certain   time  that  he  had   fixed  upon  11 
liim.      It  was  the  first  letter  that  could  be   sent   to  hii 
after  the  receipt  of  his  letter  by  the  Bishop,  and  it  \va> 
the  same    Indian    who    had    brought   his   letter  to   tlic 
Bishop  that  took   Mr.  Ogdeu's  letter  to  him.     Ah  to  in 
forn>atron  relative  to  the  situation  of  the  captives,  thai 
could  be  of  no  ])articular  utilit}'  to  any  ojie,  and  as  tlh 
Bishop  knew  nothing  about  it  except  through  Indian  iv 
ports,  he  thought  that  Mr.  Sjialding  would  receive  nior' 
correct  information  from  his  own  Indians,  who  had  \m\ 
at  Wailatpu  and  had  themselves  seen  the  captives,  tlur 
from    hiuiself.     And    moreover  an    express   would   hav 
been  very  expensive,  if  one  could  have  been  obtained. 

12th.  When  Mi*.  Spalding  sa^'S  that  I  avj'ived  at  Wai: 
atpu  just  about  the  moment  the  young  American  wa 
killed,  ho  slanders  rac  again  ;  since,  as  he  says,  \\t 
young  Amei'ican  was  killed  at  two  o'clock,  P.  M..  an 
I  did  not  arrive  at  the  Indian  camp,  until  between  sove' 
and  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening,  without  having  pasj^t 
by  the  mission. 

\iiih.  Rev.  Mr.  Griffin,  the  Editor  of  the  Oregon  Ainf 
ican,  is  not  more  correct  when  he  says  that  I  concevtA 
a  letter  at  Wailatpu  with  Mr.  Mcliean's  messen<,'or 
since  it  was  known  to  all  the  peoj>le  of  the  station  tli: 
Mr.  McBean's  messengers,  who  had  come  in  the  mornii- 
that  followed  the  nuissacre.  had  started  off  long  boforl 
the  evening  for  Walla  Walla;  while  I  did  not  arrive!! 


'A 

?- 
I 

tlio  Iiu 

dav,  ar 

i4th. 

fioiiarii 

le  I  fid 

ic  hid 

a    Diirii 

to  do  it 

it  pnuk 

txistoru 

erally  tl 

end. and 

£<•  back 

|<k'll(:c  w 

|llO  Bish 

fpn'i,  of 
f<-'i'  in  w 
"Sir  . 

ork-  \vl 

pixious  1 

[ack  to  t 

I  order 

iJid  I  int 

•  The  \ 
transi 

lior  fro 
onaries 

;i"t  iri> 

(J  had 
I*  us,   w 

low   CO 

The  Bi> 

voriior 

an  a  m( 

lencj-  < 

tor,  he 

ok  in  th 

0  Dalles 

'A  a  mis 

ival  the 

'ccted  t< 

onded  i\ 


TllK  WHITMAN  MASSACRF. 


81 


lests  Imvf 
kvorc  inur- 

Wailatim 
•cu\)ie(i  ii 
a  com  mm 

thai  thoj 
J  I  hut  Uv 

the  Bishu];. 
^Uc'd  iti  re 
he  had  t'lr 
,iou  of  tht 
nouiiced  t' 
I-  tl»e  other 
>  leave  tl 


tlio  Indian  camp  until  hUe  in  the  cveiiiniij  of  tlie  same 
lay,  and  at  the  mission  on  the  next  morninii;  otdy. 

i4th.  It  is  also  iiieonvet  to  say  that  I  lie  I'atholic  mis- 
jfionaries  despised  the  authority  of  the  (tovernor  and  of 
ihe  Indian  Agent,  \vi>o  had  commanded  them  to  leave 
|li('  Iiidiari  country. 

^  During  the  winter,  without  heing  in  the  least  onk'red 
to  do  it,  the  Catholic  clergy  of  Walla  Walla  had  thought 
|t  ])i'udent  to  leave  the  upper  country  on  accouni  of  the 
Ixistencc  of  the  war.  But,  in  the  spritig,  as  it  was  gen- 
frally  thought  in  the  Willamette  that  the  war  was  at  ar\ 
iikJ.  and  as  Indians  were  urgently  usking  the  jtriests  to 
ro  back,  and  also  an  it  was  ])roper  for  him  to  tix  his  res- 
ilence  within  the  limits  of  Ids  ecciesiastial  jurisdiction, 
he  Bishop  notirted  <TOVernor  Abei-nethy,  on  the  21Hh  of 


'd  upon  fo!  ^l"''')  <^^  '''"^  intention  to  go  hack  to  his  diocese,  in  a  let- 
icnt   to  hill     ^'''  '"  which  were  the  following  lines: 
•iiid  it  wii-      " '^i'*  ■  ■         i  foiil    dssirous    to    go    and    continue   the 


•md  it  wii-  " '^i'*  •  •  ■  •  1  fo^l  dssirous  to  go  and  continue  the 
•Iter  to  tlk  ;  i'f>i''c  which  we  have  begun  with  son\\3  success;  J  feel 
1  ^n  toil)  "^''*"*^  ^'^^^  ^■"'*-''^'"*''^^*'*"^'^'^  shotdd  allow  us  to  return 
iDtives    thai    '^^-k  to  those  Indians  who  wish  to  know  God  as   we  do, 

,  and  as  tli- 


v 


\e 


1  order  to  adore  and  love  Ilim  from  their  wdiole  heart; 
|ii(l  1  intetid  to  do  it  as  soon  as  |)ossible. 
I  -The  two  letters,  copies  of  which  I  have  the  honor 
tiansmit  with  the  present, — one  from  Tyaie.s,  the 
KM'  Irom  Tawatowe  (Young  Chief),  asking  their  niis- 
oiiaries  to  go  back  to  them, — are  a  proof  of  their  desii'o 
^•"t  instructed.  Who  would  not  rejoice,  seeing  that 
<)(!  lind  ins|)ired  them  with  such  good  leelings?  And, 
v  us,  who  know  all  the  good  tlmt  can  be  done  there 
how  could  we  refuse  to  run  to  their  help  ?" 
The  Bishop  expected  to  receive  an  answer  from  the 
veruor.  as  a  matter  of  course,  but  after  waiting  more 
nil  a  month  for  that  atiswer,  and  seeing  that  His  Ex- 
IK'ncy  did  not  even  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  that 
Ut,  he  resolved  to  fulfil  his  intentions.  He  started 
ik  in  the  middle  of  June  with  his  secular  clergy  for 
messenticr^*-'  Dalles,  for  the  purpose  of  settling  there  and  begin- 
station  tliiWi.ii  ii  nnssion.  At)d  it  was  only  a  few  days  after  hi.s 
the  morniilH"'^"'il  there  that  the  Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs 
\'  Ion"  hetirw^^tted  to  one  member  of  the  clergy  a  letter  that  was 
»ot  u'rvivo  iW*'''^l^'J  for  hitn  (the  Bishop),  prohibiting  the  continua- 


A\  Indian 
'— ceive  mor 
>o  had  \w& 
)tives,  thiV 
would  hi^v 
ohtained. 
ed  at  Wrti 
iicrican  ws 
says,  tt 

]\    M..    'M 

I  ween  sevi;' 
aving  pas:<i 

Oregon  Anv 
1    concevU 


1M 


•  / 

I 


f   : 


liii 


« 


82 


THK  WHITMAN  MASSACRK. 


tion  of  missionary  labors  with  the  Jndians  oast  of  tli( 
Caseudo  nioiintaiiis.  Tlio  following  is  a  c-op}-  of  the  Itt- 
ter,  direcLed  on  the  outside  to  Rev.  Mr.  llossoau,  Aic. 
and  on  the  inside  to  Messrs.  Blanchot,  ite. 

"  Four  AYascopom,  June  15,  184S, 
"  Rev.  Messrs. — As  Supei-inlendent  of  Indian  At!airs 
it  bccomei  my  duty  to  inform  you,  with  all  due  respoci 
to  your  saered  ('ailing,  that  it  is  desirable  no  furllier 
missionary  efforts  should  l»e  made  with  any  Indians  e;i>i 
of  the  Ciisf-ade  ^lountains,  until  the  jii'esence  of  well  or 
ganised  and  disc'i[)lined  troops,  under  command  of  Unit 
ed  States  ofHeers,  shall  rendci*  such  efforts  safe  and  Jmli 
cious.  At  present  the  relations  between  tlio  whites  :iii: 
the  Indians  are  two  precarious  to  allow  missionarj  labor; 
with  the  Indians  to  be  either  prudent  or  effective  of  good 
So  soon  as  circumstances  will  allow,  I  shall  tak(j  mini 
pleasure  in  throwing  wide  tlie  door  of  missionarv  labor' 
among  the  natives  to  all  Chridian  mist^lonaries ;  .it  ]uv> 
cut,  prudence  demands  that  it  should  be  closed  agam 


''  With  much  respect, 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  Messrs., 
"  Your  obedient  servani, 

"  11.  A.  G.  Lke,  Sup't  Ind.  Affair. 
<'  To  Messrs.  Blanchet,  &c."' 


The  Bishop  and  his  clergy  conformed  to  that  "I'ld 
»nd  suspended  all  missionary  labors  among  the  Indiu: 
of  the  Dalles  until   more  favorable   circumstances.     " 
continued,  it  is  true,  to  remain  upon  his   clahn.  ami 
improve  it;  but  in  that,  as  in  the  rest  of  his  conduct, 
did  not  violate  the  order  nor  act  contrary  to   the   iiiKM 
tions  of  the  8u])erinten(lent,  as  is  evident  fror)\  the  li<i 
lowing  letter  written  to  him    by    IV.    Satt'arans,  Indiai 
Agent  for  the  Dalles.     Upon  false  reports  that  the  D'* 
tor  had  received,  he  bad  thought  it  ins  duty  to  writtM 
the  Bishoj)  lor  soiue  explanations,  and  immediately  :u'4 
receiving  the  Bishop's  answer  lud  wrote  in  the  lollowin'* 
terms : 


Psignat 
jiientjy 
Ptter,  in 
)ur  clui 
)ur  ini( 
*J  !<♦  Ill 

icy  aiK 


fX    ■    *.'.;.  ■  tVL' 


THE  WHITMAN   MASSACRE. 


88 


cast  of  tlu 
'  of  the  Id- 

)8S0tlU,     iVc. 


15,  184S, 


no  fiirlhor 
Indians  etbi 
e  of  well  or- 
ivnd  of  Unit 
life  and  judi 

3   wii'tOS  UU'i 

onarv  hil'Oi- 
;t.ive  of  j^t'oil 
il  take  mu(! 
onarv  lul)()i' 
rie.s  ;  it  I'l"^'^ 
jlosed  agiii-ii' 


1  "  Fort  Wascopom,  July  20,  1848. 

•  My  dear  Sir  : — On  tho  receipt  of  your  letter  of  yes- 
tcM'day  1  became  iinmediatol}'  satisfied  that  1  iiad  been 
inisinfornied  iu  relation  to  the  tenor  of  your  jjursuits  at 
present  with  the  Indians.  Although  my  informants 
Avei'o  impressed  with  a  wrong  conception  of  the  labors 
ian  Atluns  ^^  missionary  establishments,  they  considered  it  impera- 
due  respoci  ^jvoly  their  dut}'  to  inform  me  according  to  their  undcr- 
kuiuling,  in  consequence  of  which  I  wrote  to  you ;  though 
J  now  sincerely  hope  you  will  have  the  goodness  to  for- 

Ifive  me  and  my  informants  for  the  ])ain  antl  trouble  we 
luve  given  you  upon  this  subject;  for  I  do  assure  you 
lie  act  was  not  done  knowinglj-  through  the  medium  of 
liuliscretion,  but  through  wrong  and  ignorant  concep- 
lioiis  of  missionary  matters. 

i  ■  As  to  the  matter  of  instructing  and  explaining  to 
|ho  Indians  the  common  precepts  of  the  liible,  there  can 
e  no  objection  ;  because  1  do  sincerely  consider  it  a  most 
^ingiiuuiinous  uct  in  any  one  to  give  tho  poor  benighted 
oiiigs  all  the  light  ami  instruction  within  their  i)ower, 
«|ion  the  subject  of  Christianity  and  civilization  ;  without 
distinction,  hdwever,  as  to  Church  or  mode  of  adminis- 
i|i';>.tioii,  during  tho  })resent  crisis  of  affairs  with  them. 
1  "  Now.  upon  the  jxdnt  of  being  compelled  to  write  to 
d.  Affairs.  ^^^^  Superintendent  in  relation  to  naissiouary  cstabiish- 
i^eiits:  this  j)art,  Sir,  you  do  most  assuredly  misunder- 
i.iiid,  because  in  speaking  of  missionary  establishments, 
%  is  not  to  be  understood  that  a  house  or  simply  an  im- 
that  ""''  |r()vernent  is  means  a  missionary  establishment,  nor  in 
tlie  Indi  t'  giiiply  ftijfillirig  religious  duties  or  exercises  tliereiu  j 
stances,  li  ||L'cmise  houses  are  dedicated  to  many  uses,  and  that  use 
lahii.  aiKi  iL'signates  the  character  of  the  establishment.  Conwe- 
s  conduci  <pieiitly,  you  must  not  understand  that  I,  in  my  previous 
tter,  inferred  that  you  should  desist  from  improving 
ur  cluiiii  ;  far  from,  it;  because  it  is  most  assuredly 
ur  undoubted  right  as  a  man  and  free  citizen  ot  Ore- 
M  to  make  a.ny  and  all  such  im[»roveraent8  as  your 
.(■y  and  desires  may  plan  and  construct;  and  by  thus 
ing,  I  ciwiHider  tluit  you  ari  acting  perfectly  in  accord- 
oe  wpth  the  letter  and  ^irit  ol  **ur  fnee  and  re^wibli- 
n  eonstitntion. 
1  beg.  *ar  that  ir^m  may  forjjno  tne  for  the  trouble  1 


o 


to  the   iiii^'M 
Trom  the  h 
farans,  Imli* 
tliat  the  1* 
ity  to  wri' 
iediatel\   .. 
the  I'olJowi 


m 


THE  WHITMAN   MASSACRE. 


i    !| 


have  caused   yoii  vipon  tlii.s  occaRion,  and  you    wjll  cv. 
obli_u;o  yovir  mo8t  obedient  friend, 

'  Henry  .Saffarans, 

''  Indian  Agent  for  Wasco|)oiii 
"To  A.  A.  M.  Blanehet,  Bi.sliop  of  Walla  Walla.' 

No  change  has  taken  place  in  the  state  of  things  fciriu 
15lh.  Wlien  Mr.  Spalding  said  that  he  had  met  a  prics 
in  coni])any  with  an   Indian  who  had  the  avowed  intw 
tion  to  kill  him,  1  am  inclined  to  say  Ihat  he  cc  '.!d  li;iv 
clone  something   better  and   more   worthy  a   noble  aii, 
gi'atel'ul  hi'art    than   to   advance    so    Iieinous    a    slainlt 
against,  the  l)est   friend   he   ever  liad.     I    am    the   pi-ii- 
whom  Mr.  Spalding  met  in   company   with   one   of  ti 
murderers.  When  he  met  me,  1  had  jnst  started  fronui. 
Doctor'H  establishment  where  I  had  buried  with  my  ow 
hands  the  dea<l  bodies  of  the  unfortunate  vii-tims  of  tl 
disastei",  as  befor«.i  stated ;  where  J  had  consoled   in  tl 
best  manner  I  could  tiie  widows  and  oi'])hans,  and  ol 
tained  from  tliat  same   Indian   the   promise   that    tin 
would  do  them  no  harm  and  would  treat  them  well  ;  aii 
expressed  rej)eatedly  my  anxiety  foi*  Mr.  Spalding,  iiii 
fcar  tluit  he  should  come  too  soon,  and   would    fall,  |Hr 
Imps,  into  the  hands  of  the  Indians;  and  my  ardent  il 
sire  of  meeting  him  in  time  to  give  him  a  cliance  to  if 
cape.     For  a  proof  of  that  I  refer  to  the  captives  w 
were  then  at  the  Doctor's  establislnnent.     At   the  u 
meat  of  my  departure  that  Indian  liad  joined  my  iiit 
preter  and  was  comin  j;  in  company  witli  me  againsi  i 
will  and  without  my  knowing  of  his  intention,     llispiv 
ence caused  me  great  uneasiness  on  Mr.  Spahling's  accoiu) 
I  had  wished  to  tind  an  o])portunity  to  send  him  bat 
and  to  escape  from  him.  but  in  vair.,wheii  Mr.  Spaldingsu 
denly  met  me  and  placed  me  in  the  mostcritieial  situati 
in  Avhich   I  ever  found  myself,  and  where  1  had  the  uol 
fortune  to  save  his  life  at  the  evident  peril  of  my  own 
Now  is  it  not  ungenerous  and  inconsistent  on  the  ]ia| 
<)f  Mr.  Spalding  to   throw   a  donlit   upon   my   intentioii 
in  that  circumstance  ^     If  J  had  entertained   bad   intcipj 
tions  against  him;  if  I  had  wished  to  have  him  killed,^ 
l)e  insinuated,  w(udd  I  have   warned   him   of  the  daii:i 
that  threatoied  him?     Would  I  have  given  him  my  ]ti 


TIIR  WHITMAN   MASSACRE. 


85 


II  will  evi  ijiisioiis  and  advised  him  to  fly  without  delay,  as  ho  says 
iiiiisrlf  I  did?  Strange  reasoning  thisi  ••The  priest 
ftold  nie  that  the  Indians  intended  t<»  kill  nie  ;"'  that  in 
'uBCopom.  crdei'  to  escape  from  their  hands.  •'  I  had  hetler  to  run 
Walla."  ctl'  instantly,"  and  so  as  to  furnish  me  with  the  means  of 
uiiig  so,  "  he  gave  mo  his  meat  and  hi-t-ad.  and  (lod  de- 
iv('f('(l  me  ti'om  the  murderi'rs;"  then  it  is  evident  that 
lie  jtriest  intended  to  cause  me  to  Ik-  kiiU-il  !  .Vnd  this 
nevertheless  Mr.  S])alding's  reasoning,  word  for  word, 
it  is  not  corro't  to  say  that  the  Indian  was  in  my 
ointianv  "with  the  avowed  intiMition  of  Uillinir"  .Mr. 
palijiiig.  lie  had,  as  well  as  the  otluM-  Imlians,  tho 
cHcral  intention  of  killing  him  at  the  tlrst  oj)portuiiity, 
is  ti'uo  ;  hut  such  was  not  tho  reason  that  had  caused 
iiH  to  come  with  me  ;  hecaitse  ho  did  not  know  nor  think 
at  Mr.  Sj)alding  would  come  on  that  day.  Jlis  inteii- 
ictim^  of  il  ion.  as  I  knew  afterwards,  was  to  inform  his  uncle,  Cam- 
isoled  in  t!  §s))t'l(),  the  military  chief,  of  tho  massat-re.  and  roceivo 
lans,  and  o'  lis  orders  liesides,  he  was  accompanying  me  at  that 
se  that  tlu  ponicnt,  as  other  Indians  had  done  during  the  day,  with- 
;  my  knowle<lge  of  their  immediate  intentions,  and  in 
tell  a  way  as  to  keep  me  in  continual  apprehension  and 
ar. 

It  is  also  untrue  to  say  that  that  Indian  retired  to  an 
lohserved place  to  rdo(((l  his  pistol.  Mr.  Spalding  know 
tter  than  that,  since  I  had  told  him  that  tho  Indian 
(1  gone  back  to  catnp  to  consult  about  his  fate  If  his 
tentiojis  had  been  to  reload  his  justol,  he  would  not 
vo  wanted  more  than  a  few  minutes  to  have  loaded  it 
d  shot   Mr.    Spalding,   as  neither  my  interpreter  nor 


things  girid 
met  a  prii; 
rowed  intoL 
(  c(^  lUl  hav 
a  nol)le  aii. 
s  a  slandt 
n  tho  pru- 
1  one  of  til 
rted  fremiti 
with  my  ow 


em  well ;  lU; 
Spalding,  nv 
)uld    tali,  IH 
ly  ardent  <! 
chaiK'C  to  I 
captives  wli 
At  the  m. 
cd  my  inti; 
\e  against  ivi 
)u.     HispK 
liuix's  accouii 
Ijii' 


3n( 


Inm 


ysolf  could  have  prevented  him  for  want  of  arms  am 
J)(kI  l)(;rses.     J^ut  he  did  not  return   until   two   or  three 
.Spaldingsuimurs  after  when  T  was  on   Marron's  Fork.     Morover, 
ticialsituut;  iplniiy  but  Mr.  Spalding  and  myself  can  give  a  correct 
had  the  u'   a|i<>unt  of  what  passed   between  us  at   tho   time.     We 
Wvi'c  alone,  my  inter])reter  being  at  some  distance  from 


o 


f  my 


()\V! 


it  on  the  j;  ii|  ;uid    not  hearing  our  conversation  j   and   I  can  bear 

iny  intenti'  t|stiMiony  that  then  Mr.  Spalding  was  not  in  a  state  fit 

form    a  judicious  opinion  of    things   or  words  ;    the 

;lit  and  trouble  of  mind  which    the  knowledge  of  his 

r  had  produced  ou  him,  had  set  him   completely 


d   bad 


him 


kilK 


)f  the  da 
Il  him  tny  pi 


llli'O 


•^ide  himself 
8 


1^ 


1^ 


< 


^C)  Tin;  WHITMAN    .MA.S.SACRK. 

IDili.  I  coiiu'  in»\v  to  \\iv.  la>t  u(*cu>alioii,  iiiid  one  ■ 
l!ii'  111  »>!  iiialiciDiis  iha'i  iias  hi'i'ii  luailo  a,i;aiiist  ii- 
•■  'I'lial  till'  pfit'sts  hail  lold  I  In-  Indians  fviTv  where,  a:; 


W 


:illa 


W 


u 


hid    III   part  KMihii'.  thai  t 


1*.' 


iiiis>i()iiaru'.s  wer<'  caiisinn'  tliciii  to   die 


haf 


tl 


K)is()iiiiiir  tlu'iu 


liat   It    wa-^    1 


A 


liiericaii^ 


I'olr-la 

icy    wi' 

wlio    ii; 


■b.r()U:j,hL  the  measles  aiuoiii;'  tlu'iii;  ami  that  (Jod  l;;i 
sent  ihat  sie!<iiess  io  them  to  siiow  his  hatred  ai>'aiii.--u!i 
liei'eties." 

I  soJeiiiiily  allirm  that    such   a  thiiiii;.    nor  anything'' 
llu'  like,  has  never  heeii  said  hy  any   |)riest    to   the  li, 
(liaiis.      1    (h'ly    any   one   to  jirove   tie'   contrary;  ami 
tew  remarks  will  show  what  eontidence  can  he  priideiit 


put  by   iinjH'ejii 


lice.  I 


|>eo|)le   in    tlic  present   aceiisal 


bi'()Ui;-ht  by  Ml'.  Sijaldiiii;'  a^aiiisL   U: 

First,  it  is  a  mere  va^i^Mic   and  malicious  as--ertion.  ai 
to  sup])oi"t  it  he  has  not  broii<;-lit  ("orward  the  least,   to; 
niony,    bii!  the  supposed    reports  mudc  to   them    by    t 
Indians,   Tintinmitsi    and    Yellow    Herpent.      lint    as 
those'  rei»orts  J  have  reason  to  iloiibl  that  they  had  ovt 
lieen  .made  to  him  Ity  lliose   Indians  : — nmny  an  insiaiu 
has  proved  to  us  that   more   than    once    Mr.    SpaMiii:; 
memory  has  given  way  to  his  imagination.     If  they  li;u 
boon  made  to  him,   1  dai-e  say  that   it  bus   been    wii' 
view  to  sound  him,  us  it  is  ii  common  jiraetice    with 
dians,  and  to  tiiid  out  tVom    his  answer.s  w  hether  it  uJ 
tvue  or  not  that  the   American   missionaries   wore   \w\ 
oiling  them,  as  it  has  been  for  years  the  general  iiiiint 
sion  among  them.     And  tinally,  those  rep(.u'ts  can   In 
no  credit,  and    prove  nothing  in   the  ease.     If  in    im 
j)art  of  the   .States   ot  the    Union    the    testimony    otij 
dians  is  never  admitted  as  j)rool'  against  the    whiles 
any  court  of  jiisiice,   it    would    bi'    here    inconsisteii; 
mak'e  it  the  basis  of  public  opinion,  and  es[iecially   wli 
it  is  expressed  in  such  vague  and  general  terms. 

It  is  evident,  besides,  that  the  Doctor  and  Mr.  Sj)aiui, 
never  believed  anything  as  to  the  ti'uth  of  such  I  in 
reports,  if  they  ever  heard  of  them.  '•  Jf  Dr.  AVhitiii 
and  .Mr.  Sjialding,"  sa3's  the  Hon.  V.  IL.  Burnett,  ' 
lieved  the  tales  tliat  the  Indians  were  telling  them,  i 
the  ])riests  were  persuading  them  the  Doctor  was  p<»i 
jng  them,  why  di<l  they  not  take  somestejis  to  investi,::: 


llio  ma 
t  r('(|u 
■icnse,  t 
loiiht. 
k'tli  a  ( 
has  ( 
noil  an 
5vei'y  si 
fiidian  ( 
•ere  t( 
X'lieved 
act,  lie  ■ 
lold  yoii 
old  you 
nd  see 
•Id  tliesi 
^on  that 
[lid  just 
liipposo 
lave  tak-< 
loen  told 
lis  Ntai 
■iosts  fa( 
Iriests 

<l  the  I 
'octor  in 
live  pro.- 
idiaiis. 
on  see  t 
'^'  y'Mi, 
lytliing 
niitte^l 
e  I)oet(, 
would 
ors  to  t 
ingiblo 
■icsts  lijK 
t  the  J I 
<l  ti-y  to 
hn.  the 
every  v 
iiivestii 


TllK  WHITMAN  MASSACllE. 


S7 


lid  oiH'  - 
;;uiii>t    n-\ 

Uk'.V  wvi- 
;  who  lia 
\    (iod    I'.ii 


lie  niattcr,  to  inquire    into    tlio  truth    oC  (hose  reports  ? 
t  ir(]nii*e(l  no  nioi'e  thjin    ji    little   honesty,  iind  eoiiiiuon 
(■use,  to    have   (^nahh'd    them    to  set  the  matter  heyoiul 
<)iil)t.     When    I    hear   that    a  neighhor  has  eliari:;ed  mo 
itli  a  crime,  it  is  my  duty  to  ^o  to  him  an<l    asic  him    if 
le  has  said  so.     This  course  is  a  |)lain  one,  and  veiy  eom- 
lon  amon*;  honoral)ie  men  that  ai'e  not  williiiii;  to  helieve 
very  slander  thoy  hear   in    the   community.     When  tho 
«|ii(h!ni  came  to  the  Doctor, and  told  him  that  tho  ])riestH 
Ivcre    tellini:^   them    that  lie  was  |K)isoninif  them,  had  ho 
X'lieved  there  Avas  even  a  ))i'ol)ahiiity  that    such  was  tho 
iiry  ;  ami  ;  Uj(.(  l,c  would  have  inquired  ot'the  Indians:  'What  priest 
,c  pnuUiilij  1(^1,1  y^)^^  ^^q  y     Xo  what  Indians  did  they  say  so  'f     It'they 
old  you    so,  they  told  you   a  falsehood.     Now  let  us  «;o 
11(1  sec  tho   priests,  and  take  with  us  those  Indians  tluiy 
)l(l  these  things  to,  and  f  will  face  them  down  and  show 
on  that  it  is  false.'     This  course  would   htivo  hoon  fair 
iid  just  to  tho  priests,  to  tho  Doctijr,  and  to  the  Indians, 
iippose  this  course  had  been  taken.     The  Doctor  shoui(i 
live  taken  with  him  the  Indians    that    these  thini^s  had 
Boon  told  to,  as  well  as  some  of  tho  houorahh;  emigrants 
|t  liis  station,  and  haviiiii;  hi'oiio-lit   the    Indians    and  tho 
liosts  face  to  face,  lie   ■could   then   have  inquired    of  tho 
•iests  :  'Arc  those  things  h/)  y'     If  the  pi'iests  hud  \n  iiict 
Id  the  Indians  so,  and  had   then    denied  the  fact  to  the 
octor  in  the  pi'osencc  of  tho  Indians,  it    would  at    once 
ivc  prostrated   the    influence    of   the   ])riests   with   tho 
idiaiis.     Dr.  Whitman  could   have  said  to  the  Indians: 
oil  see  those  men  are  liars;  they  told  you  I  was  pois<»n- 
u;  you,  and    now    they   deny  it.     You    cannot   helii^vo 
ytliing  they  tell  3'ou.'     But    suj)p(^so    tiie    priests    had 
niiLte<i  thi^y  hiid  told  these  things  to  the  Indijuis,  then 
e  Doctor  could  have    boon  prepared  for  the  worst,  and 
would  have  been  able  to  have  ex|»osed  these   cfuispii'- 
orsto  tho  world,  not  by  mere  Indian    iiearsay.  but  '  by 
n<<;ible   evidences.'     On    t'le    other    hand,   sup])Ose   the 
iests  had  iiover  t(dd  tlioso    things   to    the  Indian.s.  and 
at  the  Indians  had  l)een  telling  lies  to  sound  the  Doctor 
il  try  to  find  out    whi'ther   he   wus   in    fact    poisoning 
joni,  the  Imiians  w(;uld  have  beeii  detected  and  exposed, 
every  view  of  the  case  good  would  have  resulted  from 
iiivestiiratioii.     Now  Dr.  Whitman  was  a  man  of  good 


uiythiiii;' 
to   the 


UeCUSUtl'" 

sevlion.  ai 
'  least    tr^i 
lem    by    tw 

lint    as 
loy  iiad  >-'V 
y  an  iiis'.aiK 
1-.    Spal<rnii.'i 

If  they  liui 
I  been    wiili 
'co    with  1; 

Iher  il  w: 
were    p" 

-nil  in>l'i' 

ts  ean   I)*' 
If  in    lU' 

nony    "' ' 
10   whiit.- 
•ousisteii; 
eeially   ^v 
rins. 

Mr.  Spaia^ 
sueh  li>il; 
)i-.  Whitiii 
iurnett,  " 
ng  theui,! 
)\'  was  pt»b 
to  iuvesli,:; 


11 


i  t      ■  i J-l 


m 


a  i: 


i 


I  'I 


u  ^\ 


8^ 


TIIK  WHITMAN    MASSACRT,. 


HtMisi-  ainl  ^M't'ut    liniiiirss.  jind  liu'l  lu'  Ik'UcvimI  tli;it  i 
i'c|ti>rl.s  liiifl  any  loiiinlali(>ii.  ho  ci-rtainly  wctiiltl   not  lias 
luTii  alVaiil  or  asliaiiK'il  to  liavi'  ItroiiL;"!)!  Iliis    inatUr  \^ 
ti'sl  lliat  would  lia\  I' sotlK'd  ii." 


Hut  I 


»(' 


r 


U' 


follow  liiLT  siaU'iMciiL  i.s  ai^o  soinc'wiial  in  our 


ill  this  i-asc.     I  ri'll'i'  to  Mr.  Thos.   .M<'Kay'>  saLoiiu'ii 


I 


i.'ildliii 

I'c  or  N 


whoso    tcsliinoiiy  Mr.    .Spaldiiii;-    has    n-lorn 


d.      II 


V    \vj 


jirosoiil  at  tlu'  ('ouiicil  held  a'  Walla  Walla  hy  tho  ^'iivi.B  p 
chiefs,  .wIr'ii    called    hy    the    Bishop    for   the  piirj) 


IiIIioIk 
I'cc  ni( 


11 V 


OSC 


isUiiii;-  them  ibr  a  piece  of  land  for  a  mission.  Jle  hei 
what  ac'ciisalioiis  the  Iii(Jiaiis  luaiK-  ai;"aiiist  Dr.  Whi.ii 
on  tlial  oe(a>ioii.  and  what  ihu  answers  made  to  them 
.^he  Uishop  wei'e: 

•    Dtiriii;^  the  mcetin<i,-,"  siiys  ho,  ''Tiimsaky  said  tl;| 
J)r.  Whitman  was  a   had  man;  that  he  rohheil  and  p 

|)  rejilied  to  him  -t  hat  his  l  hoiu 


oned  t  hem. 


Th 


liislio 


were  i»ad  ;   the  I)oct(U"  did  not  iioison  them  nor  roh  tl 
lie  had  h(.;tter  banish  those  tiioiii;hts  iVoin  his  miii'l.  y| 
do  not  know  the  Doctor,  he  is  not  a  had  man." 

'•  One  of  the  chiel's  told  the  Bishop  they  would' 
the  Doetoraway  very  soon,  and  they  would  ;j,i\<' 
his  JKMi'^e  if  he  wisheil  The  liishop  aiiswert-d  lh:i 
would  not  take,  the  Doctor's  house;  tiiat  he  did  not  i 
them  to  send  the  Doctor  nway,  and  that  there  was  r 
enoiiirh  I'oi-  two  missions." 

Now,    if  the    Bislioj)    had    formally   contfadicted 


pi'ies 

liis  \v 

Imi   (hii 

•^pal 

I'sc    (lu 

Incndie 

\VV   IK)   ( 

jiU'est  M 

ir  tlu 

Jilaci 

IVIISOH  (i 

K'  foii( 


■o  : 

it'll  is  is 

|i'i'  on  t 

■  at  the 

|i'S   ill  id 

ins  in  that  circuinstaiieo,  how  could    it    he  f^ui'T'lile  •  si- 


Iu<li 

(hat    he  should    have  spoken    dill'erently  on  othei 
sioiis 'i'    'lie   knew    how   important  it  was  to  wei<i;li 
his  answers  and  words  witii    the   Indians,   and  caretj 


U'oon  h 


v'Cl 

li'^woro 

11. 
1,'or  coni 


o 


o 


to  avoid  an}thiiii;-  that   would  a|»jiear  like  hesitatioiR  p    r> 
contradiction.      Besides,    he    never  spcdvo  to  the  Imliff   jr   (j 
hut    throu;j,h    an    interjireter,  and   «;'enerally   tho    'urn 
pretor  of  the  Fort,  ami  alwa's  in  the  public  room,!  p   j 
in  pi'osence  of  all  the  jieople  that  wi.-hed  to  hear  liii&f  jj    c- 
Tlie  importance  id  keopiiii;'   his   inHuenco   even  «),(.  j)' j'j 
tlie  whiles  would  have   then   |)revented  him  fi-om  sail  j>  j) 
aiiythin[:i;  ai;aiiist  J)i'.  Whitman   and  others  in  contral  jf   ^ 
tion  to  what  he  had  said  on  that  occasion.    And  1  ; 
that  he  never  did  ;  for  a   ])roof  of  wliicli   I   refer  i 
]»ooide  who   lived   or   wore  at    WalUi   \Valla  during' | 
Ktay  there,  (j>    j 


o 


f  put  til 
lilts  oiil 

o« 


if'  i 


*i5-aj 


THK  WriITMAN  MASSArRK, 


80 


vd  that  tliH 
uld  not  ltiii| 
■;    iniilU'r  I' 

I  in  Diu"  I'^'l 

SilU'MK'lll.. 

•0(1.     Ho   «j 
l)y  the  Cavi. 
ic  \)Mri)<)Sf 
)ii.     lU'  lii-'ai 
Dr.  Wlti.iiiJ 
ulo  lo  llu'iii 

;aky   «iti<l  tl 
lihc'il  ami  \)' 
at  Ills  ihouu 
1  lu)!"  rt)l>  tl'^'i 
his  luiiK.l.  "ll 

mm  " 

ley  wouM  ^' 

woultl  ;j;i^"*'  '■ 
iswcTt'd  iliiii 

ho  (li'l  >>"^  ^1 
ihcr^  was  v- 

inlradiftcd 
il   bo  su^l)' 

s  lo  \voiji;li 
unci  oui't^'t 
<o  hcsilalioi 
.  to  tlio  I  mill 
ally   tlic    'M 
ultlic  room, 
I  to  licar  lii 
oiK-e   even  1 
iin  from  ^a; 
oi'ts  in  contra' 
,n.    And  1  n' 
U   I  re  for  lo] 
vValla  during 


Hiif  ihoio  is  anol  licr  circiinistntico  lliat ,  in  tny  opinion, 

|in  throw  ni'oater   li-^lit    on    tlu»    irattor   than   ?uiylliinir' 

.('.      It  is  a  conversation    that    tooU    ))l:ico  hot  ween  Mv. 

•a\{\\\\<j;  and  hr.   Ponjado.  in  the  ('ayiisi'  coMnti-y.   al)ont 


re  < 


)!' six   niiles   at    farthest    fi-oni    tho   |)laeo  whoro  I 


iiiliolic    mission    was   afterwards   ostahjishod.      It   wan 

■0  months    hoforo   the   csfiildishmont  ot   that  mission, 

i|  livo  (hiys   hoforo   ijio    l?isho])   (who  was  fai"  ahead  of 

pfiosts)  passod  foi"  the  first  tim(>  on  i  ho  ( 'ayn'^o  lands, 

his  way  to  Fort  Walla  Walla.     Tho  rea<le''  will  jinl<;-e 

[ini  that   eonvorsation  what    rcdianco   can  ho  ]»lacod  on 

S|»aldini;''s   as^iM'tions    in   !j;oiuM'al.    hnt  ospocially  oiv 

so  that  en(;-a^e   our   tittention    at    prosi'nt.      L(>t  it  ho 

icmhorod    in    ]u'rMsini^    the  eonvorsation.    that    thoro 

■I'o  no  cioriiTnu'ii  yet  arrived  amoni:;   the  Cayusos.  tho 

[irost  wore  at  least  one  hundrocj  miles,   and  the  othor.s 

|iiit  three    hiindrod    miles  distant.     Tho   convorsati(/ii 

k  ])laci>  on  tho  JJlst  of  Ann-iist.  and  the  mission  of  fho- 

,iisos  did  not  l)o<;in  until  tlu'  latter  part  of  Novi'mhor. 

10  ibllow8  the   eoiiversalion   an   related   hy  Dr.  Pou- 

L' : 

'liis  is  to  certify  that  on  tlio  .^Istday  of  Ani;-nst,  1:^47, 
io  on  the  road  to  ()reii;on,  I  mot  Kov.  II.  II.  Spald- 
;it  tho  Willow  S])rin<jj,  at  the  foot  of  the  Blue  Monn- 
^.  and  that  the  following  eonvorsation  took  place 
|\voen  him  and  inc  at  that  place  : 
lo  askod  me  how  many  wagons  wore  in  our  comjiati}'. 


iswere< 


him,  seven. 


II.    Snaldiiiii: — Well,    von    had    better    wait  for  a 
1^01'  oom))any. 
'  p.  Ponjade— Why  so  ? 
.  II.  Sj)alding — Bocaiiso  the  Indians  arc  getting  very 

1'.  Ponjade — Ilavo  they  done  anylxKl}-  any  harm  ? 
.  II.  S|)al(iinir — Yes,  they  have  killed  two  white  meu 


J)all 


es. 


P.  Ponjade — The  Americans  ma>'  be  in  fault. 
.  It.  Spalding — No,    it   is    tho    Catliolic    j>riests,  irjio, 
csftihlis/K'd  a  inission    among  the   Cdijuscs;  and  they 


)iit 


t  the  Indians   v\)  to   kill   all   the   American  Pr 


o- 


nits  on  the  road  to  Oreii'on. 


P.  Ponjade — Impossible;  lliat  is  not  Christianity,  U 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
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Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY    14580 

(716)  872-4503 


■i 


h^^ 


90 


THE  WHITMAN  MASSACRE. 


must  bo  a  mistake,  becauso  we  must  lovo  our  nci^^bboif 
OS  ourselves.  1  buvo  lived  thirty  years  amon^  tin 
Catholics  in  the  Unitod  vStates.  and  I  alwaj's  understoic 
iho  Catholic  Church  to  teach  her  c'lildren  to  do  <f{H 
for  evil,  and  to  bo  cha»'itable  by  giving  good  moral  n 
ample,  and  1  think  well  of  the  Catholic  clergy.  And  ti 
toll  you  the  truth,  J  am  a  Catholic;  but  hero  is  a  Piu 
testant  gentleman,  Mr.  Larkins,  who  has  lived  neiglilto! 
to  mo  twenty  years,  ask  him  if  ever  ho  know  Catholk; 
to  kill  Protestants.     Mr.  Larkins  answered,  No. 

11.  11.  Spalding — It  is  true,  I  have  received  fresh  new 
and  I  understand  the  Indians  had  stolen  from  the  wiiiti- 
One  Indian  was  killed  by  the  whites,  and  the  Indiai 
killed  one  white  man.  Do  you  know  if  the  dragoon 
are  coming  or  not  ? 

J.  P  Poujado — Tho  bill  did  not  pass. 

11.  II.  Spalding — 1  am  sorr}' ;  the  Indians  are  gettin 
worse  every  day  for  two  or  three  years  back.  They  n 
threatening  to  turn  us  out  of  the  mission.  A  few  davi 
ago  they  tore  down  my  fences.  And  I  do  not  ktiu 
wliat  tho  Missionary  Board  of  New  Vork  means  to  di 
It  is  a  fact,  we  are  doing  no  good.  When  tho  oinigrati 
passes,  the  Indians  all  run  oil'  to  trade,  and  return  wor 
than  when  wo  came  amorjgst  theip. 

And  so  1  loft  iiim  witli  his  blanket  spread,  full  of  Oi 
thing  and  another,  and  l>e  had  also  many  head  of  hor* 
for  the  j)ui'poso  of  trading  with  the  emigrants.  Aroii 
us  were  scattered  in  tho  prairies  several  bands  of  ht)rM' 
that  the  Indians  pointed  out  to  us  as  belonging  to  ' 
Whitman. 

(Signed,)  John  P.  Poujadk 

I  certify  to  the  above  conversation,   being  present 
tho  time. 

rSigned,)  Anne  Poujai'K 

Saint  Louis  VVilUmet,  Sept.  12,  1848. 


Is'o 
C'onsi 
Wailj 
o|)ini( 
in  re; 
iciou 
and  o 
^ard 
a.4  a  ] 
loa^ 
boiouj 
on  bo 
Dounc 
troci 
.Spald 
'at  ho 
nd  n 
ot,  1 
r'iolen 


lie. 


I  leave  all  comments  on  that  conversation  to  the  |)ui 


THE    WHITMAN    MASSACRE. 


91 


)nr  nci«{l»bor 
8  anion^  tin 
ys  undorst()(K 
n  to  do  *fiH 
ood  moral  tx 
;rgy.  Ami  i! 
hero  i«  a  Pn> 
ived  nei^lilHii 
new  Catliolk; 
1,  No. 

cd  fresh  iiewi 
orn  the  wliilt- 
d   the  Indiuii 


Now,  1  have  exposed  frankly  and  candidly  what  I 
consider  to  have  been  the  true  causes  of  the  massacre  of 
Waiiatpu,  with  the  grounds  and  ])roof8  that  support  my 
opinion,  tojrethcr  with  the  conduct  of  the  Catholic  clergy 
in  regard  to  that  whole  affair,  on  one  part,  and  the  ma- 
licious and  grievous  accusations  made  by  Mr.  Spalding 
and  others  against  that  same  Catholic  clerg}'"  with  re- 
gard to  that  same  affair,  together  with  what  I  consider 
u/t  a  plain  and  full  refutation  of  them,  on  the  other  part. 
I  leave  now  the  matter  before  the  jmblic,  to  which  it 
belongs  attentively  to  examine  and  weigh  the  testimony 
oil  both  sides,  and  then  impartially  to  decide  and  pro- 
nounce  whether  the  Catholic  clergy  are  guilty  of  tho 

the  dragoorl;  ntrocions  .larges  brought  against  them,  or  whether  Mr. 
Spalding  and  others  could  have  spoken  so  against  tho 
Catholic  clergy   "  without  being  crazy,"   as  Col.  Ciilliam 

A\H  are  getlinL  and  many  others  have  already  pronounced.   They  could 

,ek.     They  aiHnot,   without    being   moved    by  blind,    unjust,   and    too 

I.     A  few  (ImBv'iolent  religious  prejudices. 

do   not   kriii 

k  means  to  di 

the  emigratkj 

d  return  wo 

id,  full  of  oil 
ea<l  of  h()r> 
ants.     Aroiiij 
ands  of  hoiMi 
donging  to  If 

P.    POUJADK 

Ing  prcseiiti 
;k  Poujahk. 


on  to  the  m 


II 


'I' 

i 
i'9< 


m 


•  i 
>  4 


f    1 


w 


m 


■:.1 
I 


m 


11 


•  :K 


Ion 


Extracts  from  Iliiics'  Ilistorv  of 


Oregon. 


Tlu'  following  cxtniets  from  Hov.  Gnstiivus  Ilinos' 
fli.stori/  (if  On'(/on,  will  no  doubt  prove  interesting  to 
h'ory  render  wiio  desires  to  learn  the  trntli  of  history, 
Junnini;-    uslheydo,  a    chain    of  evidence    whieh  shows 

uialiisively  tlio  remote  eausos  whieli  led  to  tiie  mas- 
[aci'e  aiWuihitpn.  It  will  he  l)orne  in  mind  that  the 
k'lMits  detailed  in  the  followinji"  extracts,  occurred  from 
l842  to  lS4()-7,  and  among  Indians  with  whom  Catholic 
jiiissionaries  had  never  resided  Tho  Catholic  missions 
kmong  the  Indians  west  of  the  lioeky  Mountains,  were 
irst  established  in  1S40,  by  Father  Peter  de  Smct,  S.  J., 
inioiig  the  Flathead  and  Pen  de  Orielles  tribes,  who  had 
lent  deputations  to  tho  missionary  establishment,  at  St. 
bonis,  Missouri,  years  before,  soliciting  tlie  presence  of 
|he  ''blade  gowns"  amongst  them.  The  camps  of  these 
Indians  were  located  many  hundred  miles  from  the  Cay- 
isc  and  other  tribes  of  malcontents  mentioned  hereafter, 
>nd  with  whom  tho  Pen  de  Orielles  and  Flalhcads  had  no 
lonununieation  whatever. 

It  has  been  generally   remarked  by  Indian  agents  and 


Hi 


ler  Federal  officials,  that  the  Indians  amonirwhom  the 


/Utholic  missionaries  were  located,  have  invariably 
Inoved  more  moral,  more  susceptible  c  '^  civilization,  and 
more  friendly  towards  the  whites  than  those  Indians 
•vbosc  spiritual  welfare    was  under  the  control  of  non- 


iir 


^'  -^v  11 


w 


DO 


THE  WHITMAN  MASSACRK. 


Catholic  teucher.s.  This  is  an  cslablished  fact,  veiiticl 
by  the  national  records,  and  is  easily  explained,  iiiaJ 
much  as  the  missionaries  of  the  Catholic  Church  devuil 
themselves  solely  to  the  <j;reat  work  of  their  spiriiiiJ 
calling,  whilst  it  not  unfreqiiently  happens  that  the  miil 
sionaries  of  many  other  denomimitions  make  their 
ligioiis  jn'olession  sceondi.ry  to  their  own  ailliience  an] 
aggrandizement. 

With  tlu''se  remarks  we  append   the  extracts  ahovoal 
luded  to,  asking  for  them    a  careful   perusal  and   caiidi 
consideration  : 


EXTRiS^CTB. 

Ai'iuii    14      This  settlement  has   I)een  thrown   into 
panic  hy  intelligence  which  has  just  been  received  In 
t'ne  u|»j)cr  country,  concei'ning   the   hostile   intentions  J 
the  Cayuse,  Nez   Perce,  and    Walla   Walla   Indians.    l| 
appears  that  they  have  again  threatened  the  destructio 
of  the  whites.     Some  time  in  Octol>er  last  *   Indian  n 


poi 


t  said  that  these  tribes  were  comliiir  down   to  kill  ul 


the  Boston  [)eople.  meaning  those  from  the  United  Stato 
This  intelligence   |)roduced   considerable    excitement  al 
the  time,  and  induced  the  sub  agent  of  Indian  Affairs  i 
go  directly  to  the  upj>er  com. try  and  ascertain  the  tiiiiij 
of  the  report,  and  if  ])ossil»le   settle  all   matters  of  vlii 
culty.     On  arriving  among  the  Indians,   he   ascertai 
that  the  report  was  not  without  foundation;   but  entoiil 
into  such  arrangements  with  them  as  appeared   to  givj 
satisfaction.     Thomas  McKay  contributed  much  to  alia 
the  excitement  among  them,  and  in  connexion   with  tli| 
sub-agent,  induced  the  Nez  Perces  to  adopt  a  code 
laws,   and    ai)point    a    head     chief   ami   inferior   cliiotil 
Bufficient  to  carry  the  laws  into  execution.     It  liad   boej 
the  policy  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  to  destroy  tlil 
chieftainship,  cut  the  ditferent  tribes  into  smaller  clun| 

*1842 — Five  years  before  the  massacre  at  AVailatpu. 


li.: 


T 


THE  WHITMAN  MASSACRE. 


07 


M  divide  their  interests  us  far  as  possible  so  as  to 
L'ukon  them,  and  render  them  ineapaole  of  injurin<^  the 
|liites,  by  ])revoiiting  them  from  actiii<^  in  concert.     IJiit 

sub-agent  adopted  a  dirt'orent  policy.  The  individ- 
|il  appointed  to  a  high  chieftainship  over  the  Nca    I'er- 

was  one  KIlis,  as  he  was  called  ny  the  Knglish,  who. 
iving  spent  several  years  in  the  settlement  on  the  lied 
\>\'\\  east  of  the  mountains,  had,  with   a  smattei-ing  of 

English  language,  accpiired  a  high  sense  of  his  own 
iportance ;  and  consequently,  after  he  was  appointed 
iief,  juirsued  a  ver^'  haughty  and  overbearing  course, 
lie  fullillment  of  the  laws  which  the  agent   recoinniend- 

for  their  adoption,    was   required   by    lOllis   with   the 

linost   rigor.     Individuals  were   sevei'ely   |)unishc(l   for 

jinus,   which,   from  time   immemorial,   had   been   com- 

litted  by   the  |)eo[)le   with    im[>unity.     This    occasioned 

•<l»icions  in   the  minds  of  the   Indians   genei-ally,  that 

\c  whites  desitrned  the    ultimate   subjui^-ation    of  their 

l)es.     They  saw  in  the  laws  the}'  had  adopted,  a  deep- 

(1  !•  heme  of  the  whites  to   destroy   them,    and    take 

bsscssion    of  their   country.      The   arrival    ot  a   largo 

krty  of  emigrants  about  this  time,  and  the  sudden  do- 

u'ture  of  Dr.  Whitman  to  the  United  States,   wit'i  the 

pwed  intention  of  bringing  back  with  him  as  many  as 

{'oiild  enlist  for  Oregon,  served  to  hasten  them  to  the 

lovc   conclusion.     That    a  great    excitement    existed 

^loiig  the  Indians  in  the  interior,  and  that  they  designed 

make  war  npon  the  settlement,  was  onl}'  known  to 

le  whites  through  the  medium  of  vague  report,   until  a 

ttcr    was   received  from    II.    K.    W.    Perkins,    at  iho 

illcs,  in  which  he  informed  us  that  the  Waseopam  and 

alia  Walla  Indians,  had  communicated  to  him  in    snb- 

iiue  the  following  information  :     that  the  Indians  are 

ry  much  exasperated  against  the  whites  in  conse<pienco 

so  many  of  the  latter  coming  into  the  country,  to  dc- 

I'oy  their  game,  and  take  away  their  lands;  that  the 

n  Perces  dispatched  one-  of  their  chiefs  last  winter  on 

ow  shoes,  to  visit  the  Indians  in   the   buffalo  countrv 

St  of  Fort  Hall,  for  the  purpose  of  exciting   them  to 

t  ol!'  the  party  that  it  is  expected  I)r,  AVhitman  will 

iiig  back  with  him  to  settle  the  Nez  Perce  country ; 

at  the  Indians  are  endeavoring  to  form  a  general  couH- 

9 


ll 


I 


I 


1 


i. 


■       ;       'flM 

■■'      ■     f| 

TW-^ 


'Ml 


I 


1', 


!    !l 


1)8 


TIIK  WHITMAN   MASSACRE. 


tion  for  tlio  purpowo  of  dcstroyiiitj;  all  the  Boston  pcoj 
tliut  it  is  not  ^oo(i  to  kill  u  [>urt  of  tlu>iu  and   leuvoi^ 
rest,  but  that  every  one  of  them  must  be  desti-oyeil.     T 
infonnution  produced  u  i^reat  exeiteiuent  throughout  lij 
<.'oiiununity,  und  iiluiost  every  iiuiii  hud  a  pUiii  of  hi," 
by  wliieh  to  avert  the  iinpeudiii<,^  storiu.     In  the  esiim 
tion  of  some  the  Indians  were  to  be  upon  us  immediau 
and  it  uas  unsafe  to  retire  at  ni;j;lit  lor  fear  the  svttj 
ment  wouhl  be  altacived  before  moi'uiu^.     The  plan 
the  ai^eiit  was  to  induce  men  to  pledge  themselves,  iiiiilf 
the  forfeiture  of  one  hundred  dollars  in    ease  of  dil 
quency,  to  keep  constantly  on  hand,  and  ready   for  ii 
either  a  <^ood  musket  or  a  ritle.and  one  hundred  cliar; 
of  ammunition,  and  to  hold  themselves   in    readini.s> 
go  at  the  call  of  the  a,i;ent   U)  any  pai't  of  the  coimiij 
not  to  exceed  two  days  travel,  for  the  pui'pose  of  diki 
inj^  the  settlement,  and  i'ej)elling   any   sava«^e   invailt 
This  plan    pleased    some    of  the    people,    and    they  i 
down   their  names;  but    man 


y    were    muc 


h   d 


issali>liiJ 


with  it,  and  as  wc  had  no  authority,  no  law,  no  ore 
for  the  time  bein^,  in  the  country,  it  was  impossihli'. 
tell  what  would  be  the  result,  if  the  Indians  should 
tempt  to  carry  their  threats  into  execution.     "*=     *    * 

Ke])ort  says,  furthermore,   that  the    Klikitat   Indiiij 
are  collectin<5  together  back  of  the  Tuality  ])lain^ 
for  what   purpose   is   not    known.     The   peoj>le 


on 


])lains,    consisting  of    about    thirty   families,     are   (|i 
alarmed.     There  is  also  a  move  among  the  Calapooti 
Shoelbn,  one  of  the  princijjal  men  of  the  tribe,  left  i 
j)lacc  a  few  days  ago,  and  crossed  the  Willamette  rivj 
declariui'  that  he  would  nevei"  return  until  he  came  \vi 
a  band  of  men  to  drive  off  the  liosion  peo})Je.     Jle  ' 
very   much   otfended  because   some  of   his  people  w 
seized  and  flogged,  through  the  influence   of  Dr.   WhiJ 
for  having  stolen  liorses  from  some  of  the   missionari 
and  flour  from  the  mission  mill.     Ills    influence  is 
very  extensive   among   the  Indians,  or  we  might  li 
much  to  fear.     The  colony  is  indeed  in  a  most  del'ei 
less  condition  ;  two  hundred  Indians,  divided  into  I'o 
bands,  might  destroy  the  settlement  i'l  one  night.  "^ 

On  the  -Uth  of  April,  1848,  a  letter  was  received  intj 
.settlement,  Avritten  by  U,  B.  ]5rewer,  at  the  Dalles,  wli 


Tilt  WHITMAN  MASSACRE. 


!»!) 


Boston  peopij 
and   leave  iJ 

Htroyetl.  Tli 
hj'ou<^hout  tij 
)lan  of  his  un 

III  the  esiiiu 
IS  iininediatilj 
fear  the  sotlil 
.     The  i.luii 
L'inselves,  iiiulJ 

t'uso  ol"  (k'lil 

ready   i'ov  iJ 
mid  red  ehai';'| 
ill   readiiK'» 
of  the  ouiiiiii 
I'pose  of  de'kiii 
iva^e   iiivudiil 

and    they  \\ 
iich    dissali.>tiij 

hiw,  no  oi'tlij 
s  Impossiblo. 
liaiis  should 

likitat    Indiiil 
ity-  phiiiis. 
]jeoj>le    <*ii 
ies,    are  (iiii| 

he  Cahijiooal 
tril)e,  left 

ViUamette  nv| 

,il  he  eaiiK'  w 

o\)\e.     Jle  \vi 

is   uoople  wi'l 

of  Dr.  W 

e   inissioiiai'K 

liifluenco  is 


in^^s  the  hitest  intelli^enee  from  the  iiifeeted   region, 
fliis  U'tter  states  that  the  Iiidian.s  in  the  interior  talk 
null  of  war,  and  Mr.  Brewer  iir^es  ]><•.   White  to  eoinc 
\n  without  (li'ltiy,  and  endeavor  to  allay  the  exciteinent. 
[o  does  not  inform  us  that  the  Indians  design  an^    evil 
iwai'd    the   whites,    hut   says   that    the    war  is    to    l)0 
'tween  themselves,  hut  that   the    Boston   jieojile    have 
iiic'li  to  tear.     As  the  Doelor,  in  his  visit  to  the  interior 
it  October,  left  an    appointment    to    meet    the    Walla 
alia  Indians  and  the  Cayuses,  in   their  own    countvy, 
the  loth  of  May,  and  believing  that  a  ^reat  share  of 
10  oxeitement  ori^^inated  in  a  misunderstandiii*^  of  the 
idians,  he  came  to  the  conclusion  at  all  hazards  to  jjjo 
noiitij  them.     At  the  solicitation  of  the  iigcnt,  I  deter- 
liiied  to  accompany  him  on  the  expedition. 
The  ^reat  complaint  of  the  Indians  v.as  that  the   Bos- 
jii  people   designed    to   take  away    their    lands,     and 
[(luce  them  to  slavery.     This  they  had  inferred  from 
littt  Dr.  White  had  told  them  in  his  previous  visit;  and 
[is  inisunderstandiiijr  of  the  Indians  had   not  only  pro- 
K'od   a  ^reat  excitement  amon^  them,  but  had    occa- 
iiicd  considerable  trouble  betwixt  them  and   the  mis- 
iiiaries  and  other  whites  in  the  upper  country,  as  well 
iiifliicnciii^  them  to  threaten  the  destruction  of  all  the 
inerican    people.     Individuals    hail    come  down    from 
n't  Walla  VV^alla  to  Vancouver,  bringing  infitrmation  of 
excited  state  of  things  among  the   Indians,  and  giv- 
out  that  it  would  lie  extremely   dangerous   for  Dr. 
lite  to  go  up  to  meet  his  engagements.     *     *     *     * 
jXext  morning,  at  the  rising  of  the  sun,   we  left  our 
leiidants    with    the    pack   animals,   and   proceeded  on 
load,  determined,  if  possible,  to  reach  the  mission  sta- 
tu at  Waialatpu,  on   the  Walla  Walla  river,  the  same 
Pas«ed  Fort  Walla  Walla  at  twelve,  and  arrived 
Dr.  Whitman's   at  tive,   having  traveled    fifty  miles 
fee  we  mounted  in    the   morning.     We  wert^  received 
we  miy;lit  lia^ih  great  cordiality  by  Mrs.   Whitman  and  Mr.  Giger, 
Whitman    being   absent   on    a   tour  to    the  United 
'ided  into  tfl«jtes.     They   had   heard   we  were  coming,  and    were 
[king  for  us  with   great  anxiety.     We   soon  learned 
pi  tlio  reports  in  the  lower  country  about   war,  that 
produced    such    an    excitement,   wcr<?   not  without 


ht. 


Ic  nijr 


receive 


d  in 


kc  Dalles,  w 


111 


-^1 


^'^'m 


(I: 


100 


TtlK  WHITMAN  MASSACTlF. 


fouiidation  :     tlui   Cayuso    IndiiuiH,   ainoti;^    whom    tl 
mission  is  ostablislii'il,  had  freely  commuiiieuted  to  )l| 
(ii<^ei\    whom    lliey   esteemed  as   their   friend,   all   llnl 
Iciit^w  coiicernini;  it. 

WluMi  the  Indians  were   first   told  that  the  Ameiiciuj 
were  desiirniritjj  to  snhjn^ate  thcMu,  and  take  away  tli 
lands,    the    yiinj^  chief's    of  ihe   Caynso    triho   wcro 
favor  of  ])ro('ee(lini;   immediately    to    hostiiities.     Tiki 
were  for  raising  a  lar<i;e  war  party,  and,  rushing  dine 
down  to  the  Willamette  seltlement,   cut  of!'  the  inlial 
ants    at   a    blow.     The   old    chief's    were   of  a   ditlVi 
opinion;  they  Hui;<;ested  more  cautions  measures,      la, 
in<;  into  consideration   the  difHculty,  at  t'i;.t  season 
the  year,  of  n>archin<j;  a  lari^e  party  the  distance  of  llin 
or  four  hundred   miles   through  a  wide   ran^e  of  tiK 
tains,  covered  with  snow,  they  a(Jvised   all   tiie    Inilia 
to  wait  until   they  should  obtain    more  infoi'ination  t 
ce«'nini^    ihe    desij^ns    of    the     Americans.      They  ; 
tl   aij^ht  that  it  would  not   be   wisdom   in    them,    in  a; 
case,   to    commence    an    offensive    wai",    but   to    pre|)iii 
themselves    f'oi'  a   vij^orous  defence  atjainst  any  allai 
They  frequently  remarked    to    Mr.   rjiiror,  that  theyi 
not  wish    to  if()  to   war,   l>ut   if  the   Americans  caiiK' 
take  away   their  lutids,   and   brin;^  them    into  a  stiito 
vassalage,  they  would   flight  no  lonijr  as  they  had  a  (In 
of  blood   to   shed.     They  said   they  had    received  ll 
infoi-mation    conci'rninijj   the    desiiftis   of  the   Amviira 
from  Baptiste    Dorio.     This  individual,   who  is  a   li:i 
breed,  son  of  Madame  Dorio.  the  heroine  of  Washiiii;! 
Irvine's  Astoria,   understands   the   Nez    Perce  laiij^na 
well,  and   had   ^iven    the  ('ayusfs  the  information  tli 
luid  alarmed  them.     Mr.    (ii«;er    endeavored    to    iii'lu 
them    to   prepare,   early  in    the  s|)rin«(.   to   cultivate! 
ground  as  they  did    the  year  bt'fore.  but  they  refusel 
do  anything,  saying  that  Baptiste    Dorio    had  told  the 
that   it   would    be    of  no  conscquen(!e  ;  that  the  whi 
would  como   in  the  summer,  and   kill   them  allolF,  ai 
destroy  their  plantati(ms. 

After  Dorio  had  told  them  this  story,  they  sent 
Walla  Walla  chief,  called  Yellow  Serpent,  to  Vancoiivi 
to  learn  from  Doctor  Mcljaughlin  the  .'acts  in  the  c;. 
Yellow  Serpeijt  returned  and  told  tho  Cayuses  that  Iff 


'1. 


TflK  WriITMAN   MASSACRE. 


101 


(liUii^lilin  said  lie  had  notliiii^  to  do  ir)  a  war  w'rtli  the 

(liiuis ;  tluit  ho  did  not  bidiovo  tho  AtiUMMciins  (h^si^iuMl 

altack  thom,  and  that,  if  the  Aiiu'iicaiiM  did  ^o  to  war 

itii    the    Indians,    tho    IIihIxod's    IJuy  ('oin|)aiiy  woidd 

)t  assist  them.     At'tor   t hoy  trot   this  iid'orniaiion  Iroin 

i' hins  (  «^rcat)  I)o(;tor,  tho  In<li'in'-  beoanio  more  calm ; 

!iny  of  thorn    woi»t  to  »'iillivafin<.      ho  ground    as  for- 

I'lly.  and   a  lar«^o  niiinhor  of  littl'^  patcdios  had  hoon 

aiUod  and  sown.  Itofoi'o  wo  ai''"'''od  ;)t  tho  st  ilion. 

The   Cayii?ios    wor<»    princip  .' ,y  cncun»|<ed    alon<;  the 

so  of  tho    liliio    Mountains,  a  few    miles  oast   of"  Dr. 

Iiitinnn's    hoirso ;  and    after    \v(>    \\n<\   ohtainod   all  tho 

t'onnation    wo   coidd    from    Mis.  Whitman  and  Mr.  (Ji- 

r.  concorinni^  tho  state  of  thintjs  anio!)«j;  thon),  wo  sent 

oin  word  that  we  had  come,   and  desired  t(^  see  them. 

I'  alsf)  sent  the   chiefs    word    that   we  desired  them  to 

lave  all    their  peo|.lo  moot  us  at 


|al<o  arrangements  to 


rn.      .    Mo  mission  on  the  followini;  Friday,  to  have  a  talk. 

"^'-i    ^     : . '„ ■Tho  chiefs  oame  to  see  us  at  Dr.  \Vhitn»an's,   and  told 
them,   in  a;B     .  *•  .1    •  1       •  1  .1    .  *i         11 

.   .      ....>.,,■'-' •'''f"'V  <>'   their  i^rievaiicos,  and  said  that  they  desired 

'      '  ^  liave  the  (l>tficnlty  settled.      1  hoy  saul  it  would  not  bo 

iivoniont  for  the   people   to   come  together  so  soon  as 

0  desired,  as  man}'  of  them  wore  oft'  among  the  monn- 

iis,  hunting  elk.     As   they  must  bo    informed  of  tho 

uotiiig,    it    would    ho    several    days  before  the  people 

iild  got  together.     *     *     *     * 

Tuesday,  2;M.     The  ciiiofs  and  princlpa!  men  of  f)oth 

Ibos  came  together  at  J)r.  Whitman's  to  hoar  what  we 

(I  to   say.     Tliey    wm-o   called  to  order  by  Tauitau, 

lio  hy  this  time  had  got  over  his  excitement,  and  then 

as  placed  before  them  the  object  of  our  visit.     Among 

lor   things  the}'  were   told   that   much,  had  been  said 

out  war,  and  we  had   come  to  assure  them  that  they 

(I  nothing  to  fear  fror.   that  quarter;  that  tho  Prosl- 

nt  of  the  United   States  had    not   sent   the    Doctor  to 

eir  country,  to  make  war  upon  inem,  but  to  enter  into 

rangeinents  with    them   to  regulate   their  intercourse 

th   tho   white  people.     We  were  not   there  to  catch 

oin  in  a  trap  as  a  man  would  catch  a  beaver,  but  to  do 

"  '   \T   '     ...M^'in  good  ;  and  if  they   would   lay  aside  their  former 

'  ^u'tices  and  prejudices,  stop  their  quarrels,   eiiltivato 

.,    ,  rtii'ir  lands,  and  receive  good  laws,  they  might  become  a, 
'uses  thai  ip  '  *?  >       .?       & 


\ 


I    I 


ii    i: 


102 


THE  WHITMAN  MASSACRE. 


^I\ 


great  and  a  bappy  people;  that  in  order  to  do  tliiw,  tin 
miiHt  be  united,  for  they  were  but  few  in  eomparisoii  i«yoii  i 
the  wliites ;  and  if  they  were  not  all  of  one  heart,  tluiHnot  t 
would  be  able  to  aecoinplish  nothing;  that  the  ehidljCathf 
shouhl  set  the  example  and  love  each  other,  and  not  '^(  Dp.  V 
proud  and  haught}'.  but  eonHider  the  people  as  tlu' 
brotherH  and  theii'  children,  and  labor  to  do  them  gfioi 
that  the  ]ieople  should  be  obedient,  and  in  their  inoniin 
and  eveniuijj  |)rayers  they  should  remember  their  cliiofs 

Liberty  was  then  <jjiven  for  the  chiefs  to  speak,  an 
Ellis  remarked  that  it  would  not  be  proper  for  the  >>e 
Perce  chiefs  to  speak  until  the  Cayuso  people  slid 
receive  the  laws.  The  C'ayuse  chiefs  replied,  "  If  yo 
want  us  to  receive  the  laws,  bring  them  forward  and 
UK  see  them,  as  we  cannot  take  them  unless  wc  knoi 
what  the}-  are." 

A  speech  was  then  delivered  to  the  young  men  to  in 
press  them   favorably  with   regni'd  to  the  laws.     Tlu 
were  told  that  they  would   soon    take   the  jilaces  of  tl 
old  men,  and  the}'  should   be  willing  to  act  for  the  goriftlacc  f 
of  the  ))eople  ;  that  they  should   not  go  here  and  tliii    )nce  I 


and  spread  false  reports  about   war;  and  that  this  li 


about 
model 
Tl.( 
under 
all  th 
about 
Tlio  |) 
I  bavi 
(iitijMit 
to  eon 
speak 
cannot 
biisinei 
dissect 


He 

le  th< 


been  the  cause  of  all  the  difiiculty  and  excitement  wlii 

had  prevailed  among  them  during  the  past  winter.       Bive  iiau 

The  laws  were  then  read,  first  in  English,  and  theuiftavo   n 
the  Nez  Perce.  l)ropcrt 

Yellow  Serpent  then  rose  and  said  :  "  1  have  a  iiieiBhis  coi 
sago  to  you.  Where  are  tlicse  laws  from  ?  Are  thefts.  I)i 
from  God  or  from  the  earth  ?  I  would  that  you  nii;Aere  ?" 
say,  they  were  from  God.  But  I  think  they  are  fmifflhe  Prii 
the  earth,  because,  from  what  I  know  of  white  melpnite  w 
they  do  not  lionor  these  laws.  wave  be 

In  answer  to  this,  the  people  were  informed  that  tMlieir   k 
laws   were   recognised   by  God,  and   imposed  on  men  pay  of 
all   civilized    countries.     Yellow   Serpent    was    please  nil   tht 
with  the  explanation,  and  said  that  it  was  according  I  peak    a 
the  instructions  he  had  received  from  others,  and  he  wi 
very  glad  to  learn  that  it  was  so,   because  many  of 


s 


people  had  been  angry  with  him  when  he  lia''  whippe  oinethii 
them  for  crime,  and  had  told  him  that  God  would  sei  ince  th 
him  to  hell  for  it,  and  he  was  glad  to  know  that  it  w  Vomise 
pleasing  to  God."  avc  not 


peak  oi 
My 


Bl^ 


THE   WHITMAN    MASSACRE. 


103 


!do  thiH,  tlulj  Tcltiiukalkt,  a  Cayuse  cliiof,  rose  iiiul  said  :  ''  What  do 
:u)m|)urii*on  tByou  read  the  laws  for  before  wo  take  them  't  We  do 
0  heart,  tlujOnot  take  the  laws  because  Tauitau  says  so.  He  is  a 
lat  the  chidB Catholic,  and  as  a  people  we  do  not  follow  his  worship." 
r,  and  not  mDk.  White  replied  that  this  did  not  make  any  ditterenco 
^ople  as  tlii'iBabout  law  ;  that  the  people  in  the  States  had  different 
lo  them  ^f>0(jBmodes  of  worship,  yd  all  had  one  law. 
their  inorniniB  Then  a  chief,  called  the  Prince,  arose  and  said  :  "  I 
;r  their  cliii'Miuiderstand  you  gave  us  liberty  to  examine  ever}'  law — 
to  speak,  nnflall  the  words  and  lines — and  as  questions  are  asked 
er  for  the  >'eBabout  it,  we  should  get  a  better  understanding  of  it. 
people  shoiilBTlie  pooj)Ie  of  this  couritry  have  but  one  mind  about  it. 
|)lied,  "  If  \Ml  have  soniething  to  say,  but  perhaps  the  people  will 
orward  amllAiispute  me.  As  a  body,  we  have  not  had  an  0|)portunity 
nless  we  kiiumo  consult,  therefore  you  come  to  us  as  in  a  wind,  and 
■speak  to  us  as  to  the  air.  as  we  have  no  point,  and  we 
ing  men  to  lirBcannot  speak  because  we  have  no  point  before  us.  The 
le  laws.  Tlujibusiness  before  us  is  whole,  like  a  body  we  have  not 
i  places  of  lliBdissected  it.  And  perhaps  you  will  say  that  it  is  out  of 
cl  for  the  ,<j;(Kwlacc  for  me  to  speak,  because  I  am  not  a  great  chief, 
here  and  tl)im)nce  I  had  influence,  but  now  I  have  but  little." 
d  that  this  \\M  lie  was  about  to  sit  down,  but  was  told  to  go  on. 
;itement  whiAle  then  said — "  When  the  whites  first  came  among  us, 
it  winter.  mc  had  no  cattle,  the}'  have  given  us  none;  what  wo 
1,  and  theuiftavc  now  got  wo  have  obtained  by  an  exchange  of 
fcroperty,  A  long  time  ago  Lewis  and  Clark  came  to 
1  have  a  nie«his  country,  and  I  want  to  know  what  they  said  about 
m  ?  Are  thefts.  Did  they  say  that  they  found  friends  or  enemies 
uit  you  niiMiere  ?"  Being  told  that  they  spoke  well  of  the  Indians, 
they  are  tViimhe  Prince  said,  "  that  is  a  reason  why  the  whites  should 
of  white  melinite  with  us,  and  all  become  one  people.  Those  who 
ave  been  here  before  30U,  have  left  us  no  memorial  of 
heir  kindness,  by  giving  us  presents.  We  speak  by 
iay  of  favor.  If  you  have  any  benefit  to  bestow,  we 
was  please  fill  then  speak  more  freely.  One  thing  that  we  can 
8  accordinj,'!  peak  about  is  cattle,  and  the  reason  why  we  cannot 
jrs,  and  he  wi  peak  out  now  is  because  we  have  not  the  thing  before 
!io  many  ot  li  ^.  My  people  are  poor  and  blind,  and  we  must  have 
e  ha''  whipi«  oinething  tangible.  Other  chiefs  have  bewildered  nio 
od  would  sei  ineo  tho}"^  came;  yet  I  am  from  an  honorable  stock, 
ow  that  it  w  'remises  which  have  been  made  to  me  and  my  fatheis^ 
ave  not  been  fulfilled,  and  I  am  made  miserable;  but  it 


■«. 


■  I 


i  ■ 

I 
'I  * 

m 


104 


THE  WHITMAN  MASSACTRFT. 


from 
\vl)il 
Tl 
All  tr 
war 
river 
iinpoi 
sei'vo( 
torin^ 
tcetio 


will  not  answer  for  mo  to  speak  out,  for  my  people  (h 
not  consider  me  as  their  chief  One  thinij  more;  you 
have  reminded  me  of  what  was  promised  me  sometime 
aujo,  and  I  am  inclined  to  foHow  on  and  see;  thonj^h  I 
have  been  ^iv'in<^  my  beaver  to  the  whites,  and  have 
received  many  promises,  and  have  always  been  disup- 
pointed.     I  want  to  knoM'  what  you  are  ^ojh;^  to  do." 

Illutin,  or  Bi<ij  Belly,  then  arose  and  said,  that  the 
old  men  were  wearied  with  the  wickedness  of  the  yoiiiig 
nfien.  That  pf  he  was  alone,  Ire  could  say  yes  at  once  to 
the  laws,  and  that  the  reason  whv  the  youni'  men  did 
not  feel  as  he  felt  was  because  they  had  stolen  property 
ir>  their  hands,  and  the  laws  condemned  stealing.  But 
he  assured  them  that  the  laws  wore  caleulated  to  do 
them  jjjood,  a>ul  not  evil. 

But  this  drd  not  satisfy  the  IVincc.  He  desired  that 
the  ^ood  whrch  it  was  propf>scd  to  do  them  by  adoptiii:,' 
the  laws,  miij^ht  be  put  in  a  tangible  forni'  before  then). 
He  said  that  it  had  been  a  lonjjf  time  since  the  country 
bad  been  discovered  by  whites,  and  that  ever  since  that 
time,  people  had  been  comrnuj  along,  and  j^romising  to 
do  them  good  ;  but  they  had  all  ]>assed  by  and  left  no 
blessing  behind  them.  That  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company 
bad  persuaded  them  to  continue  with  them,  and  not  i,") 
otter  the  Americans;  that  if  the  Americans  designed  to 
do  them  good  why  did  they  not  bring  goods  with  them 
to  leave  with  the  Indians  ?  that  they  woie  fools  to  liston 
to  what  the  Yankees  had  to  say  ;  that  they  would  only 
talk,  but  the  company  would  both  talk  and  give  them 
presents.     *     *     *     * 

About  this  time  (1848)  the  Indians  became  q^uite  trouble 
some,  in  various  partsofthecountry.  At  \Vailat|)u,  on  the 
Walla  Walla  river,  where  a  mission  station  had  be  n 
established  by  ]>r.  Marcus  Whitman,  they  took  advaii 
tage  of  the  Doctor's  abfvence  and  bi-oke  into  the  house. 
in  the  dead  of  the  night,  and  even  in  the  bed  chamhei  '••  more 
of  Mrs.  Whitman,  who,  with  much  diftieulty,  escapdl 
out  of  their  hands.  At  Tiapwai,  on  Clear  Water  rivor 
wbei'e  the  Rev.  Mr.  Spalding  was  eonducting  a  mission 
station,  they  conunitted  some  outrages;  also,  at  th(  ^^"^■''•onii 
Falls  of  the  Willamette  river.  A  number  of  iiidividuiil 
of  Dr.  White's  party,    who   had    separated    themselvo 


The 
Facto I 
Esq., 
where 
It  re I a 
sionari 
causes 
reader 
prejudi 
ai^ainst 
suiieriiji 
tlier)  re 
judging 
Douglai 
curing  < 
ivinole 
Wailatp 


ivill  be  1 
nteresti 
nissionii 
he  resp 
ongs  : 


^?5E!=!?^ 


THE  WniTMAN  MASSACnE. 


105 


^' people  do  ■  fpom    tlio    main    eoinpjiny,  were  robbed  of  their  eft'eeta 
more  ;  .you  ||  wliile  pussinjr  ddwii  tUe  Colmnbia  river. 

The  Nez  Porces  aiul  Ciiyuses,  two  of  tbc  most  power- 
ful tribes  in  the  country,  had  talked  much  of  making 
war  upon  the  Amei'icati  settlement  on  the  WilUunetto 
river.  These  things,  with  many  others  of  more  or  lesn 
iin|)ortatice,  produced  a  hi^h  decree  of  excitement,  and 
served  to  arouse  the  people  a«i;ain  to  the  subject  of  en- 
tering into  some  measures  by  wliich  their  mutual  pro- 


o  sometime 
' ;  thoui^h  I 
1,  and  luivc 
been  disap- 
if  to  do." 
id,  that  the 
f  the  younj; 
!S  at  once  to 
n"  men  did 
en  property 
'alin<^.  Biit 
lateci  to  do 


tection  might  be  secured,     * 


Letter  of  Sir  James  Douglas. 

The  following  letter  from    Sir  James  Douglas,    chief 
desired  thiit|pjj(^.tor  of  tl.o  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  to  S.N.  Castlo, 
Esq.,  wa«  first  published  in  the  Friend,  at  IIonlulu,S.  I., 
where  the  gentlman   resided  to  whom  it  was  addressed. 
It  relates  the  massacre  of  Pr.  Whitman   and  other  nun- 
gjonaries  in   a  truthful  manner,    and  gives,  as  one  of  the 
causes  for   their  murder,  the    fact  alread}'  patent  to  tho 
reader  who  has  perused    the  foregoing  pages,  viz  :     Tho 
prejudices  existing  in  the  minds   of  the  Cayuse   Indiaris 
aj^ainst  Doctor  Whitman,  "tor  not  exerting  his  supj)08ed 
supernatural  powers  in    saving   their  lives."     No   man 
then  residing  on    this  coast  had  better  opportunities  for 
judging  the  character  of  the  Cayuse  Indians,   than  Mr. 
ruite  trouble-  i)i)uglas,  and  no  m;«n  possessed  greater  facilities  foi*  pro- 
latpu,  on  the  curing  correct  information  relative  to  the  causes — both 


by  adopting; 
before  tluMi), 

the  country 
er  since  that 
promising  to 

and  left  no 
ay  Company 
),'and  not  iip 
>.  <lesigned  to 

Is  witli  them 
lools  to  listen 
would  only 

d   o-ivc  them 


hn    had  ben 

took  advaii 

lo  the  house. 


remote   and  immediate — which   led  to   the  massacre   at 

Wailatpu.     Hence  the  letter   of  Mr.   Douglas  is  entitled 

bed  chambei  '"  more  than  ordinary  consideration,  and  his  conclusions 

Ity,  escape!  will  bo  found  to  coincide  exactly  with  those  of  other  dis- 

11^^    nterested    witnesses,    clearly  exonerating  the  Catholic 
Ml'  a  mission  -^  ^ 

also    at    tb(  iiissionarics  from  any  shadow  of  culpability  and  placing 

f  individual   he  responsibility  of  the   calamitj''  where  it  properly  bc- 

themwelvc  ongs  : 


T^^B 

'imjm 

'>J 


I 


tl   •, 

J     'l 

I 


t- 


m 


lOG 


THE  WHITMAN  MASSACRE. 


y\  '■  Fort  Vancouver,  9th  Bee,  1847. 

S.  W.  Castle,  Esq. — Sir  :  It  is  with  foelings  indescrib- 
ably painful,  that  I  hasten  to  communicate  to  you,  for 
the  information  of  the  Board  of  Missions,  intelligence  of 
a  disastrous  event  which  lately  occurred  at  the  mission- 
ary  stations  of  VVailati)u.  (3ur  estimable  friend.  Dr. 
Whitman,  his  amiable  and  accomplished  lady,  and  nine 
other  nun  and  youths  in  the  mission  employ,  were  mur- 
dered on  the  21Hh  ult.,  by  the  Cayuse  Indians,  with  cir- 
cumstances of  the  most  revolting  cruelty.  The  lives  of 
the  vvohtcn  and  children  with  the  exception  of  the  la- 
mented hnly  already  named,  were  spared.  The  nii.s. 
sion  being  situated  in  the  Cayuse  country,  they  had  a 
peculiar  interest  in  jirofccting  it  from  harm,  in  gratitude 
for  jiast  hivors  and  for  the  blessings  of  religious  instruc- 
tions so  assiduously  dispensed  to  th«m  and  to  their  fam- 
ilies, yet  those  very  people  the  objects  of  so  much  solici- 
tude, were  alone  concerned  in  effecting  the  destrucdpii  of 
an  establishment  founded  solely  for  their  benefit^|PTlie 
Cayuse  are  the  most  treacherous  and  intractable  of  all 
the  Indian  tribes  in  this  c<^)untry,  and  had  on  tnany  for 

JMI- *^'^!£^^'^"^-ii'^'''^^^*^  ^''^  inmates  of  the  mission  by 
their  tuniiirruouspi-oceedings  and  ferocious  threats;  but 
unfortunately  these  evidences  ol  a  brutal  disposition 
were  disregarded  by  their  a<lmirable  pastor,  and  served 
oidy  to  arm  him  with  a  firmer  resolution  to  do  thorn 
good.  He  hoped  that  time  and  instruction  would  j>n) 
(luce  a  change  of  mind — a  better  state  of  fe<din.'»'  towards 
the  mission;  and  he  might  have  lived  to  see  his  liv/pes  re 
alized  had  not  the  measles  and  dysentery,  following  ii 
the  traitj  of  immigrants  from  the  United  States,  nitiiie 
frightful  ravages  this  year  in  the  upper  country,  many 
Indians  have  been  caified  off  through  the  violence  of  llio 
disease  and  others  through  their  own  inprudence.  The 
Cayuse  Indians  of  Wailatpu  being  sufferers  in  this  gen 
eral  calamity,  were  incensed  against  Dr.  Whitman  for 
not  exerting  his  supposed  stipernatural  powers  in  savin 
trieir~lives.  They  carried  this  absurdity  beyond  that 
point  of  folly.  Their  superstitous  minds  became  pos 
sessed  with  the  horrible  sus])icion  that  he  was  givim^ 
poison  to  the  sick  instead  of  wholesome  medicines  with 
the  view  of  working    the  destruction    of  the  tribe,  theii 


formei 
ion. 
Dr.  W 
effects 
people, 
The.) 
csolvt 
tcr  bui 
epaire 
there- 
This 
Indian.^ 
tlicir  ai 
school 
ox  they 
Whci 
ff^'cCt  til 
with  o-ii 


soon  str 

loiratt 

shot  in  t 

a  hatche 

lemainii 

and  exj>i 

I'ct,  and  1 

Has  shot 

men  and. 

1  voiee 

ivhoni    tl 

'pared. 

y  a  Mv. 

h'.  iloge 

Id  that 

overy    c 

icrson  til 

i'>ison  till 

\'aiiatj>u, 

e  poisoDi 

es.sion  of 

liein  all  j 

0  it  grad 

)ared.  bu 


^M 


THE  WHITMAN  MASSACRE. 


107 


former  cruelty  probably  addlncj  strength  to  this  suspic- 
ion. Still  some  of  the  more  reflecting  had  confidence  in 
Dr.  Whitman's  integrity,  and  it  was  agreed  to  test  the 
effects  of  the  medicine  he  had  furnished  on  three  of  their 
people,  one  of  whom  was  said  to  be  in  perfect  health. 

They  unfortunately  died,  and  from  that  moment  it  was 
resolved  Lo  destroy  the  Mission.     It  was  immediately  af- 
ter buiying  the  remains  of  these  three  persons  that  they 
s   with  cirli'cpiviJ'c'd  to  the  mission   and  murdered  every  man  found 
he  livesofltbere. 

1  of  the  lal  This  hajvpened  about  2  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  ;  the 
Indians  arrived  at  the  mission  one  after  another  with 
tlieir  arms  hid  under  their  blankets.  The  doctor  was  at 
sciiool  with  the  children,  the  others  were  cutting  up  an 
o.K  they  had  Just  killed. 
When  the  Indians  saw  they  were  numerous  enough  to 
much  solit'i-l^'ft'-'^t  their  objeul,  they  fell  upon  the  poor  victims,  some 
structjoii  ofl^\''-l'  giiKt*  and  othei's  with  hatchets,  and  their  blood  was 
snefit'^f'riiePO'^"  streaming  on  all  sides.  Some  of  the  Indians  turned 
stable  of  all|l''^''''ii^tenlion  towards  the  doctor  ;  he  received  a  pistol 


c,  1847. 
\  indescrib- 
o  you,  for 
lligence  of 
je  mission- 
Viend,  1>. 
r,  and  nine 
were  nuu' 


The  mis- 
Lhey  had  a 
n  tcratitude 
ous  instnio- 
0  their  fam- 


n  many  for- 

mission  by 

hveats;  but 

disposition 

and  served 

to    do  thorn 

would  pro 

injr  towards 

is  hwpes  ro- 

ollowini;-  i 


i'iiot  in  the  breast  irom  one,  and  a  blow  on  the  head  with 
a  hat(rhet  from  another.  He  had  still  strength  enough 
remaining  to  reach  a  sofa,  where  he  threw  himself  down 
and  expired.  Mrs.  Whitman  was  dragged  from  the  gar- 
ret, and  mercilessly  butchered  at  the  door.  Mr.  liogers 
was  shot  after  his  life  had  been  granted  to  him;  the  wo- 
men and  children  were  also  going  to  be  murdered,  when 
voice  was  raised  to  ask  for  mercy  in  favor  of  those 
ivliom    they    thought    innocent,  and    their   lives    were 

|)ared.  It  is  reported  that  a  kind  of  deposition  made 
)'  a  Mr.  Ifogers  increased  the  fury  of  this  savage  mob. 
ir.  Ilogers  was  seized,  was  made  to  sit  down,  and  then 
ikl  that  his  life  would  be  spai'ed  if  he  made  a  full  dis- 
jvery  of  Dr.  Whitman's  suj)j)Osed  treachery.  That 
erson  then  told  the  Indians  that  the  Doctor  intended  to 
oison  them,  that  one  night,  when  Mr.  Spalding  was  at 
iailatj)U,  he  hoard  them  say  that  the  Indians  ought  to 
e  poisoned,  in  ordci-  that  the  Americans  might  take  pos- 
I'Ssion  of  their  lands — that  the  Doctor  wished  to  poison 
licm  all  at  once,  but  that  Mr.  Spalding  advised  him  to 
licine's  witlf*^  it  gradually.  Mr,  liogers,  after  this  deposition,  was 
tribe  theii  pared,  but  an  Indian,  who  was  not  present^  having  seen 


%\ 


m 


i 


108 


THE  WHITMAN  MASSACRE. 


him,  fired  at  and  killed  him.     An  American  made  a  simi- 
lar deposition,  adding   that  Mrs.  W.  was  an  accomplice, | 
and  she  deserved  death    as  well  as   her  husband.     It  ap 
pears    that  he  concluded  by    saying  that  ho  would  take] 
the  side  of  the  Indians,  and  that  he  detested  the  Ameri- 
cans. An  Indian  then  put  a  pistol  into  his  hand,  and  said  I 
to  him,  if  you  tell  the  truth,  you  must  prove  it  by  shoot 
ing  that  3oung  American;  and  this  wretched  apostate 
from  his  country  fired    upon  the  young  man    shown  to 
him,  and  laid  him  dead  at  his  feet.     It  was  upon  the  evi- 
dence of  that  American  that  Mrs.  Whitman  was  murder- 
ed, or  she  might    have  shared  iu  the  mercy    extended  to] 
the  other  females  and  children. 

Such  are  the  details  as  far  as  known  of  that  disastroixl 
ovent  and  the  causes   which   led  to  it.     Mr.  Roger's  re- 
ported deposition,  if  correct  is  unworthj^  of  belief,  hav- 
ing been  drawn    from  him  by    the  fear  of  instant  dcatli 
The   other  Ameiican  who  shed    the  blood  of  his  friend,! 
must  be  a  villain  of  the  darkest  dye,  and  ought  to  suffeil 
for  his  aggravated  crime. 

On  the  7th  inst.,  Mr.   Ogden  proceeded  towards  Wal 
Walla  with  a  strong  party    of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Coml 
pany's  servants  to  endeavor  to  prevent  further  evil. 

Accompanying  3'ou  will  receive  a  copy  of  a  letter! 
which  I  addressed  to  Governor  Abernethy  immcdiateljl 
after  the  arrival  of  the  melancholy  intelligence  at  thisi 
place.  All  that  can  be  collected  will  be  considered  im-[ 
portant  by  the  friends  of  Doctor  and  Mrs.  Whitman  inj 
the  United  States,  who  will  bo  anxious  to  learn  eveiTl 
particular  concerning  their  traffic  fate. 

It  will  be  a  satisfaction  for  them  to  know  that  tlicsel 
eminent  servants  of  God  were  faithful  in  their  lives,! 
though  we  have  to  deplore  the  melancholy  circumstancesl 
which  accompanied  their  departure  from  this  world  ofl 
trial. 

I  remain,  sir, 

Your  very  ob't.  servant, 

»  James  Douglas. 


-\ 


lat  disastrous  I 
•.  Roger's  re- 
)f  belief,  liav- 
nstant  death, 
of  bis  friend,! 
agbt  to  suffei'l 


i\v  tbat  tlicsel 
n  tbeir  livesj 
jirciinistancejl 
this   world  ofl 


l;l 


wafcta 


